Baby mud turtle found in the surf
By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital
A striped mud turtle was among the 109 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week.
The hatchling striped mud turtle was found in the surf at Vanderbilt Beach. Striped mud turtles are typically found in freshwater ponds and ditches and brackish water with low salinity. When the turtle arrived at the wildlife hospital, it had its head and legs tucked in, its eyes were open and it appeared alert. The turtle weighed two and a half grams (the same weight as a penny) and was in good body condition.
Staff placed the tiny turtle in a special habitat, containing fresh mud, in the reptile room within the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. The turtle was monitored for several days to ensure there were no health issues caused from being in the high salinity ocean water; the turtle was active and showed appropriate behavior for a healthy mud turtle. The turtle was cleared for release after six days of care.
This striped mud turtle was one of three hatchlings recently admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. Female striped mud turtles, as well as many other species of water turtles, can travel a good distance from their wetland homes to lay their eggs in drier soil. Hatchling turtles are often found in precarious situations as they navigate from their nest site to appropriate wetland and freshwater habitats.
If you find a young turtle in a dangerous situation, help it to safe, appropriate habitat near where it was found. Hatchling turtles do not require any parental care and instinctually are able to fend for themselves. Never keep a hatchling wild turtle as a pet.
Recent Releases
Two adult red-bellied woodpeckers, a burrowing owl, an eastern cottontail, a black vulture, a Florida box turtle, an opossum, a blue jay, a loggerhead shrike, three mourning doves, five mottled ducklings, a common grackle and a Florida red-bellied turtle were released this past week.
Opportunities to Help
Support the Conservancy’s mission to protect native wildlife. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital hosted a virtual Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower on June 6 raising awareness and support for the hospital’s youngest patients.
Hospital staff is incredibly grateful to everyone who has already donated items in support of our work. Gifts can be donated online through the Conservancy’s Amazon Wish List through the month of June.
