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HOW YOU CAN HELP
- Oregon's turtles
need your help for their long-term protection and conservation.
- Biologists are working on an updated census of Oregon turtles. If you
see any, let us know. If you don't have answers to all these questions,
it's OK. Biologists will go take a look. The more detailed the information,
the more helpful it will be in determining what species you have seen,
location, etc.
:: Leave native turtles alone!
- It’s illegal to pick them up and move them, and you’ll
do more harm than good if you take them to a nearby pond or otherwise
change their
location. It’s illegal to keep native turtles as pets or to move
them to your property.
-
If you see anyone picking up native turtles, call the Fish and Wildlife
Division of the Oregon State Police at 800-452-7888.
:: Take injured turtles to a rehab center
- Slow turtles often have collisions with fast vehicles. The one instance
in which it is OK to pick up turtles is when you find them injured.
It's OK to help them across the road in the same direction they were
headed — wash your hands afterward. In Portland, contact the Pacific
Northwest Turtle Project or take them
to the Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center, 5151
NW Cornell Road. Do NOT take healthy turtles to a rehab center. Just
leave them be.
:: Don’t release pet-store turtles
into the wild
- Pet-store turtles are non-native turtles that can out-compete native
turtles and give them diseases.
:: Teach children to respect turtles and other wild things
- Learn
about native turtles and pass on your interest and knowledge.
:: Volunteer to
help turtles and other wildlife
Volunteer
to help biologists monitor turtles or help with a habitat restoration project.
Organizations that sponsor projects include
the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Zoo and Metro Parks and Greenspaces.
- Support organizations that help turtles and restore turtle habitats.
- Many organizations are working to protect native turtles and restore
the wetlands they depend on. We’ve compiled a list of a few
that could use your help.
:: Leash your dog!
- Better yet, leave your dog at home when you are going to a natural
place. Instead, take them to a dog park or a designated off-leash
area of a city
park. Please don’t let your dogs off-leash near ponds, rivers
or wetlands. Don’t throw sticks in the water for dogs to fetch
if there’s
any chance turtles may be present. Also, curb any digging behavior.
Turtles bury their eggs in the ground, often some distance from the
water.
- Your
dog may smell them and dig them up. If you live near a wetland, keep
an eye on outdoor cats as well.
:: Watch your wake!
- If you have a motorboat, be mindful of turtles. Your wake can send
turtles flying off their basking logs.
:: Carefully remove fishing hooks
- If you catch a turtle when fishing, don’t cut the line. The hook
may get trapped in its esophagus and the turtle will slowly starve
to death.
- If you can’t get the hook out easily, take the
turtle to a wildlife rehab facility.
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