New Jersey wildlife centre cares for 219 box turtles dumped near river
A wildlife center in New Jersey is caring for 219 box turtles that were illegally dumped near a riverbank in July. The facility is preparing the turtles for winter by creating specialized habitats that mimic natural hibernation cycles.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns about illegal wildlife trade and the environmental impact of abandoning non-native or captive species into local ecosystems.
More than two months after scores of box turtles were found abandoned along a riverbank in Cranford, New Jersey, the rescue effort has entered a new phase. The Mercer County Wildlife Center now reports caring for 219 turtles connected to the July dumping, up from about 190 in early August. With colder weather approaching, the centre is building two outdoor enclosures where many of the turtles will be able to spend the winter following the same seasonal cycle they would experience in the wild. Staff have nicknamed the new habitats Brumation Stations, a reference to the reptile equivalent of hibernation. Read on to know more:A riverbank littered with turtlesThe unusual rehabilitation effort began on July 29, when a Cranford resident discovered dozens of turtles abandoned along a riverbank near Riverside Drive and Casino Avenue, adjacent to the Rahway River.
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