Updated Information Regarding Freshwater Turtle Die-Off

In an earlier entry, I described a turtle die-off that has been occurring among Florida freshwater turtles, particularly along the St. John’s River. I have updated information to share.

What do we know?

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reports that about 300 sick and dead turtles have been found in the past year. There are no external injuries or obvious signs of infection, and no toxins have been found, including those that could be caused by an algae bloom like red tide.

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What’s going on with Florida freshwater turtles?

Apalone ferox, Florida softshell turtle

We find them often in the pool: flat turtles with leathery shells, long necks and odd noses. Sometimes the shells have a subtle pattern that looks like dark stains left on a dark green tablecloth. . . maybe last year’s Thanksgiving gravy that never really came out in the laundry. Sometimes they are over a foot long, but once Steve rescued what must have been a young turtle, less than 6 inches from nose to tail. We put them in a large bucket and relocate them to Lake Eustis. If I were a turtle in need of rescue, I would want Steve to find me and put me in a lake because he wonders about turtles he has saved for long after I have forgotten them.

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