Former Turtle Butcher Turns Rescuer With Incredible Backyard Hatchery
In a secrete Wisconsin urban yard, Joe works tirelessly filling buckets, digging holes, and chopping food. A closer look will reveal hundreds of tiny turtles in various stages of development in pools surrounding his property. This is an late summer tradition for “Turtle Joe”, rescuing the multitudes of turtles that hatch from nests laid that spring. Earlier in the year, Joe works non-stop at a local waterway, digging up the many nests that are laid there each and every year. These eggs are then transported to a special hatchery at his residence, and come August, his house is the main attraction for people from miles around. Why does he dedicate so much of his time to this important endeavor? Unfortunately, predators are the main threat for these local turtles, and if Joe doesn’t get the eggs first, the raccoons will; however, it wasn’t always this way. Joe grew up butchering and eating turtles most of his life, and during the past thirty-five years, his life has been transformed as he has reset his goals towards conserving the imperiled chelonians which call Wisconsin their home. Joe says that he feels it is his duty to give back to the turtle population which he spent his years taking away, and this magically comes to life in early fall, as each hand-raised turtle is released back into the wild, giving it the very best chance of survival. Turtle Joe is an inspiration for millions, demonstrating the very best in excellence for wildlife conservation.
Turtle News From Around the World
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Crime & Punishment
UK: Stolen tortoises confiscated from poachers
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Ecology
USA: New development destroys local Gopherus polyphemus population
Health & Medical
USA: World-class sea turtle hospital boasts incredible feats of veterinary medicine
Miscellany
USA: Video of massive sea turtle arriving at beach
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Photo from Chantal Theijn.
