Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby to present talk about turtles

DERBY -  The Kellogg Environmental Center will host Turtle Talk from 11 a.m.-noon Aug. 3. 

The program will cover turtle habitat, life history, and more in this family-friendly, informal talk, which will include a live turtle demonstration. 

All ages are welcome to learn about turtle conservation and the things you can do to help endangered species. 

Don’t hide in your shell, come out and join us for some reptilian fun! 

Free admission; registration is recommended.  

For more information and to register, call 203-734-2513.  

The Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. It is operated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

This is a press release from the Kellogg Environmental Center.

Celebrate Turtle Day at Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will celebrate all things turtle Saturday at the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave. 

Programs will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  

Speakers, displays, and activities will all take place at the Kellogg Environmental Center and Osbornedale State Park. 

Learn about the challenges facing these reptiles and the current work being done to protect them.  

A variety of turtles from educational centers will be on hand throughout the event to help you learn about local challenges for turtles in the wild.

The day will have ongoing activities including a turtle viewing station at the pond, a reading corner for turtle and related stories, and a self-guided art activity on turtles.  

The Osborne Homestead Museum will be open for tours and will offer a unique scavenger hunt challenge of “Find Phoebe the Turtle” in the rooms and on the grounds.  

Presentations in the Kellogg Environmental Center:

11 a.m.

A representative from Mystic Aquarium will speak about sea turtles and their protection.  

Local turtle ambassadors from the Norwalk Maritime Museum and Aquarium, White Memorial, Beardsley Zoo and others will also attend.

1 p.m.  

Anthony Pierlioni from the TurtleRoom, an organization with a mission to advance survival of the world’s turtles and tortoises through collaborative education, conservation, and research programs will present a program focused on global turtle issues. 
He will also have a display of exotic turtles and tortoise showing the adaptations and diversity of these reptile favorites.

2 p.m.

A pool-side turtle feeding demonstration will close the day with explanations about our resident turtles and the food they eat. 

The day has something for everyone. You are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the day.  

There is no fee to participate in the programs or events, but donations are greatly appreciated.  

For further information, directions, or to register call Kellogg Environmental Center, 203-734-2513, or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.

This is a press release from DEEP.

DEEP asks drivers to watch out for turtles, help them cross roads

Credit: Paul Fusco/DEEP Wildlife Division

May through June is a critical period when female turtles undertake risky overland forays to reach nesting areas. During this time, they often cross roads, sometimes with fatal consequences. Be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads and give them a “brake!”

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is reminding residents to be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads. 

The months of May and June are the nesting season for many turtles and during this season egg-bearing aquatic turtles often cross roads in search of terrestrial nesting sites.

“Connecticut’s landscape is highly fragmented by busy roads, and many turtles are forced to travel great distances – and across roadways – to find suitable nesting habitat,” said Rick Jacobson, Director of the DEEP Wildlife Division. 
“Helping a turtle move across the road can be the difference between life and death for the animal, and for future generations, but your safety comes first. Be sure to assist a turtle in the road only when it is safe to do so and do not attempt to stop traffic.”

“Research has shown that aquatic turtle populations across the United States have uncommonly high proportions of males because so many female turtles are being killed on roadways,” said Jacobson.

Guidance on Assisting Turtles

Always keep the turtle pointed in the direction it is going. If you turn it around in the other direction, the turtle will only make another attempt to cross the road. 
Also, DO NOT move the turtle to a “better spot,” and DO NOT put terrestrial box turtles in a lake, pond, or other water body. 
Turtles have a home range and females often return to the same general area to lay their eggs. Snapping turtles can be large, heavy, and feisty, so if you are unable to “shoo” them across the road, pick them up by the back of their shells, NOT by their tail, to avoid a bite. 
Some people use a shovel or a stick to push or skid snapping turtles across the road.

Turtles have a long lifespan, take a long time to reach sexual maturity, and have low survivorship when newly hatched. Because of these attributes, turtle populations cannot compensate for losses due to adult mortality without experiencing long-term consequences. 
With turtle populations requiring high levels of adult survivorship, every individual is important to a population’s stability. This concern is even greater in recent years because many U.S. turtle populations are becoming fragmented, isolated, and progressively smaller.

In your travels, if you encounter a turtle in the road, just remember this motto: “If it is safe, help turtles cross the road.” 

DEEP is also encouraging residents to take photographs of any turtles they observe as they enjoy the outdoors and share them on the CT Fish and Wildlife Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CTFishandWildlife or on a Twitter account set up by students from UCONN’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (https://twitter.com/CT_SWAP). 
Those interested in learning about Connecticut’s turtles can visit the DEEP’s turtle webpage at www.ct.gov/deep/yearofturtle.

This is a press release from Connecticut DEEP.

Mark World Turtle Day at Kellogg Center in Derby

DERBY - Enjoy a family day of activities and programs to learn about turtles and their importance to the environment on World Turtle Day starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave.

These interesting reptiles are always present in the landscape of Connecticut. They are frequently misunderstood and their special needs and habitat requirements are often over looked.

The day will start with ongoing activities featuring a turtle viewing station at the pond, a reading corner for turtle stories, and an ongoing public art station on turtles.

11 a.m.: Native Turtles of Connecticut Program

noon: Turtle Races

Local turtle ambassadors from area nature centers and Kellogg will race to the finish line to see which center has the fastest turtle.

An afternoon pool-side turtle feeding demonstration will then be held in the Kellogg Center with explanations about our resident turtles and what they eat. 

The day has something for everyone and for all ages to enjoy. You are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the day.

The adjacent Osborne Homestead Museum will be open for tours from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and will have the unique challenge of “spot the turtle” in the rooms and on the grounds.

The Kellogg Environmental Center and the Osborne Homestead Museum are operated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.


This is a press release from the DEEP.

Kellogg Center in Derby to mark World Turtle Day

DERBY - Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection celebrates World Turtle Day May 23 at Kellogg Environmental Center by offering a day of activities and programs on turtles from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Turtles are unique reptiles that are always present in the landscape of Connecticut. Come with the family to learn about turtles and their importance to the environment while spending the day outside with your family.

The day will start with ongoing activities featuring a turtle viewing station at the pond, a reading corner for turtle stories, and an ongoing public art station on turtles.

The Osborne Homestead Museum will be open for tours and will have the unique challenge of “spot the turtle” in the rooms and on the grounds.

A special program, Native Turtles of Connecticut, will take place at 11 a.m. followed by turtle races at noon.
Local turtle ambassadors from area nature centers and Kellogg will race to the finish line to see which center has the fastest turtle.
After the turtle races, an afternoon pool-side turtle feeding demonstration will be held in the Kellogg Center with explanations about our resident turtles and what they eat.
The day has something for everyone and for all ages to enjoy. You are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the day.

There is no participation fee but donations are greatly appreciated.

The Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum are located at 500 Hawthorne Ave. For further information, directions, or to register call the Kellogg Environmental Center, at 203-734-2513 or email donna.kingston@ct.gov.


This is a press release from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.