A Wood Turtle’s Journey: From Surgery to Recovery

HARP recently welcomed a special guest to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center — a young wood turtle, transferred to us from Tamarak Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the end of August. This little turtle came to us with a serious eye injury, and thanks to our amazing wildlife vet, Dr. Bakken, surgery was performed successfully!

What’s Next for the Turtle?

The turtle is now resting and healing, but it’s going to take a while before it’s ready to return to the wild. We’ll be taking care of it over the winter because it needs time to fully recover and get stronger. Since turtles can’t be released in cold weather, we’ll be holding onto this little one until the spring, when the ground warms up and it’s safe to go back home.

Why Wood Turtles Matter

Wood turtles are a federally endangered species, which means their numbers are getting smaller, and they need all the help they can get. Many don’t make it to adulthood, but those that do can live for decades! Unfortunately, human activity is one of their biggest threats. They face dangers like cars, farm equipment, and illegal poaching, as wood turtles are sadly a target in the illegal pet trade.

These turtles are also losing their habitats as more and more areas are developed for houses and roads. That’s why it’s so important to help every single turtle we can — they play a key role in nature, and without them, the entire ecosystem suffers.

Looking Forward to Spring

We’re thrilled to see this little wood turtle making progress, and we can’t wait to release it back into the wild when it’s healthy and strong. For now, we’ll be keeping a close eye on its recovery, with Dr. Bakken and the rest of our team ensuring it gets all the care it needs.

Want to learn more about wood turtles and how they’re being protected? Check out this great resource from the Smithsonian’s Movement of Life.