Joo Young is an intern from Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, working in the aquarium by helping us to spread the word about all of the cool projects that people might not otherwise know about. Today she brings us some information on a special guest critter we are currently caring for:
The Berkshire Museum Aquarium does more than just sustain wildlife indoors for the enjoyment of the community. It also contributes to the balancing and rehabilitating of endangered animals. In late September or early October, the Berkshire Museum is gifted with the opportunity to help a very special species. Every year the Aquarium receives 10 Northern Red Bellied Cooters – a kind of turtle. They may not seem crucial, but their population had dropped to down to only 300 in wild when the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife started to help and shelter them. Even small bits of help can contribute to the regrowth of these turtle. Volunteers at the aquarium take care of them by feeding, weighing, and measuring their growth. During the spring, around Memorial Day, these turtles return to Fish and Wildlife staff who release them into the wild a few days later. It is now thought that the turtle’s population is up around 2000. With the contribution and effort of the Aquarium and other volunteers, the turtle are surely regaining their strength to live in the wild.
To view a US Fish and Wildlife fact sheet about the Northern Red Bellied Cooter, click here.
To learn more about other conservation projects of the MA Division of Fish and Wildlife, click here.