Come see what life is like in a shell at the Lake Mauweehoo Club at Naromi's Annual Meeting on July 8, 2010, at 6pm.  Do you have turtles in your backyard?  Aren't sure how to identify them? Do you see them crossing the road and aren't sure if you should intervene?  Have you noticed the subtle mounds of gravel near the Metro-North train tracks and wondered what their purpose might be?

Wood Turtle in Sherman   Photo by John Foley

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Protection have proclaimed 2011 as the Year of the Turtle! Turtles are in trouble -- 47% of all living turtle species as threatened. There are twelve species of turtles in CT and seven of those are on the state List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species.

John Foley, a local naturalist and turtle expert, will introduce us to live turtles from his own collection and tell us what life is like for turtles in our backyards, in Naromi's preserves and in the nearby Great Swamp.  John is a particular Wood Turtle expert.  Wood Turtles are a Species of Special Concern in Connecticut.  John will talk about the history, biology, and identification of turtles and discuss issues and threats that face turtles in our area like habitat destruction and invasive species.  For example, the Metro-North train tracks were an insurmountable obstacle for turtles.  They would climb over one track and get stuck in the no-man's-land in between and die from the heat in the summer.  Then a series of bridges were built (see photo above), so turtles could safely and easily cross the tracks.

This meeting is open to the public and will take place at the Lake Mauweehoo Club (intersection of Leach Hollow Road and Route 37 South in Sherman). We will have light refreshments and snacks at 6 pm, John will introduce us to his turtles and deliver his presentation beginning at 6:30 and a brief business meeting will follow.