SALISBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Kids and parents gathered at a pond off Leland Road in Salisbury Sunday morning for an up-close look at some of Vermont’s turtles and amphibians during the Salisbury Conservation Commission’s turtle trapping event.
Organizers set live traps ahead of time, feeding and measuring each turtle for research and showing kids how to safely handle wildlife.
Rachel Severy of Cornwall said she was hesitant to touch some of the turtles.
“When I saw the snapping turtles, I was actually like ‘I’m not gonna touch those!’” Severy said.
Severy said she did touch part of one turtle.
“I touched the back of the snapping turtle but I wouldn’t touch the front or any other part,” Severy said. “Because they are really good at snapping.”
Cornwall teacher Kerianne Severy said the event gave her children a hands-on lesson outside the classroom.
“My children loved it, my son was incredibly engaged. It made me think about how I wish we had more out-in-nature opportunities in school,” Kerianne Severy said.
Herpetologist Jim Andrews led the event. He chairs the state group that recommends which species count as rare or endangered.
“When we first started, we really didn’t have enough information,” Andrews said.
Andrews is asking the public to photograph turtles they spot to help track which species need protecting. He said the spotted turtle is at the top of the list and is considered endangered in Vermont.
“They’re not gonna survive unless we take their needs into consideration,” Andrews said.
Andrews said protecting habitat is key to keeping these species around for the long term.
“Allows them to move from one place to another when they need to move, allows them to get across roads when they need to get across roads. Allows them to lay their eggs and have young when they need to,” Andrews said.
Organizers said more turtle trapping events are planned. More information is available at vtherpatlas.org.
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