turtles

Craft Day- Turtle Magnets

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Craft Day- Turtle Magnets

Happy Craft Day! We’re making little wood turtle magnets out of wood! Hehehe! Come join us in the craft tent!

Materials:

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Wood circles of different sizes
Markers
Glue
Magnet

Instructions:
1)Color all your circles- (you need 1 large & 5 smaller ones for feet & head)

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2)Glue the circles together to make a turtle

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3) Glue on magnet

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There is your wood turtle! Make him whatever color you like! Add glitter! Jazz him up!

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Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, crafts, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hello Buffalo

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Buffalo

We are so excited to meet today’s animal. They are large and in charge and have a pair of horns you don’t want to come close too!

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Cape Bufffalo Fun Facts: 

  • These large bovines can weigh up to 1,500 lbs. They can grow over 5 feet at the shoulder.
  • They are considered one of the big 5 species in South Africa. That includes, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalo.
  • Those large horns are a part of their skeletal structure. Males have larger horns than females and can grow up to 5 feet.
  • The large area of the horns on the forehead of male is called the boss.
  • These large herbivores may only eat grass, but they are dangerous. They can charge without notice.
  • They are fantastic swimmers.
  • Cape buffalo live in herds of 50-500 individuals. Younger males form bachelor groups within the herd. Older males may be solitary.
  • The are listed as LEAST CONCERN by the IUCN.

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We wouldn’t say the Cape buffalo is the cutest animal on the block. You definitely do not want to get too close. A charging buffalo is not a cute buffalo.

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, horses, insects, lizards, Local, turtles, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

SLIDERS!!!

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SLIDERS!!!

We’re meeting an awesome reptile today at camp! These turtles live in Lake Salamander, we see them when we go canoeing or hang out on the dock! They are friendly,  but never wave back- maybe that’s because turtles are not good at waving! Hahaha! Let’s meet the red-eared slider!

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RED EARED SLIDER FUN FACTS:

  • Red eared sliders live in the Southern United States to Mexico in wetlands, ponds and rivers.
  • They are omnivores. They eat fish, tadpoles and plants.
  • They grow up to 13 inches.
  • Red eared sliders are listed as common by the IUCN.
  • Red eared sliders have red dashes around their ears.
  •  They bask in the sun during the day.

red eared3

  • Red eared sliders don’t have saliva and must eat their food under water.
  • Red eared sliders have claws on their front feet. Their feet are also webbed.
  • They brumate (become less active and hang out on the bottom of rivers/ponds during the fall and winter).

Red eared sliders are super cute. They unfortunately are listed as one of the most invasive species by the IUCN. They are popular pets, but once they grow to large or their owners get bored with them, they release them in to the wild, whether it is the proper habitat or not.

Having pet turtles is great, but you must do your homework and know how big they will grow and how long they will live. Releasing pets in to the wild is not good for them or for local wildlife that is native to the area.

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

World Sea Turtle Day!

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Ellie and Edmond ©


World Sea Turtle Day!

Come learn some cool facts about sea turtles and then meet four turtles! Woohoo- it’s all about the turtles at camp today!

  • Sea turtles have been around for 65 million years.
  • Most sea turtles travel many miles to lay their nest of eggs one the beach where they were born.
  • Most sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered.
  • Sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in nests at the edge of sand dunes.
  • Sea turtles can not pull their heads and fins in to their shells.
  • Baby sea turtles use the full moon  to guide them to the ocean after they hatch.

Keeping our beaches & oceans sea turtle friendly:

  • Keep all trash off the beach- especially plastic bags.
  • Turn off all beach lights at night so turtles are not confused.
  • Keep noise levels down at night.
  • If you are walking on the beach and need a light, use a flashlight with a red lens.

Now it’s time to meet our sea turtle friends!

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, oceans, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Flat as a Pancake!

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Flat as a Pancake!

Since it was World Turtle Day yesterday, we decided to meet a one today! These flatties live in the deserts of Africa! So let’s find the pancake tortoise!

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MEET THE PANCAKE TORTOISE!

   Range/Habitat: E Africa (Tanzania/Kenya)/rocky outcrops and savannas

   Diet: Herbivore: grasses, leaves, fruit

   Length/Weight: 5 ½”-7”/ 1 lb

   Conservation Status: Vulnerable

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Pancake tortoises live in East Africa in rocky outcrops and savannas.
  • They are herbivores. They eat grasses, leaves and fruit.
  • Pancake tortoises can grow up to 7″ long and weigh up to 1 lb.
  • They are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

pancake tortoise2

  • Pancake Tortoises have flat carapaces (top shell) that are flexible. This is a very unusual adaptation.
  • Pancake tortoises can squeeze into narrow crevices. This helps protect them from predators.
  • They don’t move to far from their shelter.

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  • They live in small colonies and share their shelters.
  • They can live up to 25 years old.
  • Pancake tortoises are crepuscular (most active at dusk and dawn).

Pancake tortoises are really neat little tortoises with their flat shells and ability to climb. And they have pancake in their name and who doesn’t love pancakes!

pancake tortoise

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY!

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY!

While the computer was down at HQs we missed World Sea Turtle Day! We so love these amazing reptiles that we could pass up a time to celebrate them and teach you some fun facts! We have seen 2 species in the wild- green sea turtles in the Caribbean and a Leatherback female laying her eggs on an island near Indonesia.

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  • There are seven species of sea turtles: loggerhead, green, leatherback, flatback, Kemp’s ridley, Olive’s ridley, hawksbill.
  • Six out of the seven of these are threatened or endangered.
  • Sea turtles can not pull their head or limbs into their shells.
  • Sea turtles spend their whole lives in the ocean, except when the female comes ashore to lay her eggs.
  • Sea turtles are found in oceans all around the world.
  • Sea turtles eat everything from algae and grass to jellyfish and shellfish.
  • Sea turtles do not have teeth.
  • Their sizes range from 600 lbs to 1,300 lbs.
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Sea turtles are being affected by humans. Their often mistake trash for food. The babies get distracted by lights on the beach as they head towards the ocean. And turtles are often hit by boats. We can help our sea turtle friends by making sure our trash never enters the ocean or is left on the beaches. If you live where there may be nests, turn your lights off at night. For other tips on how you can help sea turtles- check out the Sea Turtle Conservancy!     Enjoy this sea turtle coloring sheet too!

sea turtle coloring page

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, turtles, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

WORLD TURTLE DAY!!

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HAPPY WORLD TURTLE DAY!!!

It’s World Turtle Day and we’re celebrating our shelled reptile friends with fun facts and photos! Tell us what you love about turtles and tortoises! Check out our coloring sheet after all the fun facts and pictures!

  • Turtles have been on the earth for about 200 million years.
  • Box turtles can live to be over a 100 years old.
  • Turtles live on every continent except Antarctica.

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  • There are seven species of sea turtles. The Leatherback is the largest.
  • The top shell is called the carapace and the bottom shell is the called the plastron.

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  • Turtles and tortoises are attached to their shells.
  • The shells are part of their skeleton.
  • turtle3The coverings on the top shell are called scutes.
  • Scutes are made up of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails.
  • Turtles don’t have ears.
  • There are about 250 species of turtles.
  • Some sea turtles can dive as deep as 3,000 feet.
  • Turtles are reptiles.
  • Hatchlings have a special tooth that they use to crack open their eggs.

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turtle day

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 71

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 71

We’re going to sure the pond in our neighborhood for today’s adventure. Let’s grab some snacks for a picnic and head out to meet today’s reptile friend!  

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MEET THE RED EARED SLIDER!

red eared slider   Range/Habitat: Southern United States-Mexico/wetlands, ponds,

   rivers

   Diet: Omnivore: fish, tadpoles, plants

   Length: 8-13”

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  •          Red eared sliders have red dashes around their ears.
  •          They bask in the sun during the day.
  •          Red eared sliders don’t have saliva and must eat their food under water.
  •          Red eared sliders have claws on their front feet.
  •          They brumate (become less active and hang out on the bottom of rivers/ponds during the fall and winter).

Red eared sliders are so cute. They are very popular pet to have too. Remember, if you do decide a pet turtle is for you; get them from a breeder and not from the wild. And as always do your homework, because all pets have specialized needs.

 red eared slider2  red eared slider3

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WORLD TURTLE DAY!

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WORLD TURTLE DAY!

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It’s World Turtle Day and we’re celebrating our shelled reptile friends with fun facts and photos! Tell us what you love about turtles and tortoises!

  • Turtles have been on the earth for about 200 million years.
  • Box turtles can live to be over a 100 years old.
  • Turtles live on every continent except Antarctica.

turtle

  • There are seven species of sea turtles. The Leatherback is the largest.
  • The top shell is called the carapace and the bottom shell is the called the plastron.

turtle2

  • Turtles and tortoises are attached to their shells.
  • The shells are part of their skeleton.
  • turtle3The coverings on the top shell are called scutes.
  • Scutes are made up of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails.
  • turtle4Turtles don’t have ears.
  • There are about 250 species of turtles.
  • turtle8Some sea turtles can dive as deep as 3,000 feet.
  • Turtles are reptiles.
  • turtle7Turtles lay eggs.
  • Hatchlings have a special tooth that they use to crack open their eggs.

turtle6    turtle5

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

ENDANGERED SPECIES WEEK DAY #2

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

ENDANGERED SPECIES WEEK

DAY #2

Day two of Endangered Species Week takes us to the Caribbean to meet a large swimming reptile. We’ve met these turtles before, but are happy to go and find them again! Let’s hop aboard the E & E boat and grab our snorkeling gear to meet today’s endangered species.

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MEET THE GREEN SEA TURTLE!

???????????????????????????????   Range/Habitat: tropical-subtropical-temperate oceans worldwide

   Diet: Herbivore: sea grass, roots, jellies

   Length/Weight: 3 ¼-4 ft/145-600 lbs

   Conservation Status: endangered

 

Fun Facts:

  •          Green Sea Turtles have a smooth carapace.
  •          The carapace (top shell) is a brown-olive color.
  •          Green sea turtles have small heads.
  •          Green sea turtles have strong flippers.
  •          They are the only sea turtle that can be seen occasionally sunbathing on the beach.
  •          Green sea turtles lay eggs on the beach.

Green sea turtles are beautiful reptiles. They have been on the planet for about 65 million years and we sure hope they stick around. One great way to help sea turtles is pick up your trash! Turtles often mistake trash for food. If we make sure our oceans our clean, then the turtles only have their food to eat!  

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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