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Is the Blanding's turtle slowly disappearing from the Midwest? Um...it's a turtle! It does everything slowly!
But seriously, the Blanding's turtle, native to the Great Lakes region, is considered a "threatened" species, according to the Notebaert Nature Museum's press release about its new exhibit. The museum is housing two adult and three hatchling turtles in a mirrored enclosure that allows visitors to observe the creatures but doesn't let the turtles see us, lest they bond with humans before their release back into the wild.
The Blanding's turtle population has decreased because of a loss of its marshy habitat. [ACB 7, photo by mcwetboy]
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True Story: I hate turtles. This is why: When I was six, I saw a turtle in a park and begged my Mom to let us catch it. Due to I think mainly guilt from the D.I.V.O.R.C.E, my Mom totally waded into the pond at Washington Park and captured a small turtle, who I promptly named "Mr. Green". Mr. Green lived in our crock pot for three days until my Mother became seriously ill from salmonella, resulting in a three day hospital stay and my re-awakened abandonment issues. Turtles are SERIOUS business you guys.
Not withstanding massive voter fraud with the Chicagoist Commentator of the Month Award including illegal electioneering on the part of a certain Edititrix who shall remain nameless until my legal dossier is complete; I think it’s tres cool How Chicagoist is starting to cover the animal world including parrots, Chippewa the slain Cougar, turtles, etc. It’s important to note that these turtles are endangered due to human over crowding, i.e. the building of homes and shopping malls in lands where these creatures once thrived. I guess certain animals are gonna enjoy the economic Depression
I had a turtle in grade school named Flash. My grandfather was painting my bedroom, so emptied its aquarium of water so he could more easily lift it, leaving it on the bathroom floor. While he was painting, our family dog, Thumper, wandered in and found herself a new chew toy...
By the time my grandfather discovered what had happened, the dog had chewed roughly 1/3 of the shell off of poor, bloody Flash--the little fighter held on for a few more days before infection set in and killed him. When our grandfather picked my sister and me up after school, I think that was probably one of the most difficult things he ever had to tell us--once we started crying, he was tearing up himself. Oh well. It sucked, but whaddya gonna do? It's Grandpa...
Spav,
due tell what became of "Mr. Green" imprisoned in the crock pot prison you placed it in? What did Mr. Green eat?
Serves your Mom right! To bad “Mr. Green” didn't turn out to be a snapping turtle which are indigenous to Illinois and might with a little luck have snapped your finger clean off!
p.s they can also weight up to three hundred pounds, talk about a magnificent creature! And don’t get me started on the Alligator Snapping Turtle!
Spook: I think we just set Mr. Green free. I honestly lost interest after Big Momma almost died.
Also: I am ACUTELY aware of the snapping turtles in Illinois. That diorama at the Illinois State Museum used to TERRIFY me as a child.
So, Spav1, clearly you didn't get your "strength" from your dear mother?
And, what, did you people grow up in a barn? Didn't you think to wash anything, like your hands or the crock pot (before you used it), after handling Mr. Green?
@frp:
I am just saying that turtles almost killed a member of my family. I however, am reasonably sure that I kissed Mr. Green with nary an ill-effect. So, yeah, I am stronger even my mother.
I don't know why we used the crock-pot. We still have it I think.