See below for an interview with Anna Thonis and Kris Hoffman of NYU and Bark and Code, LLC:
These two scientists have been exploring the Staten Island Greenbelt, looking for Eastern Box Turtles. While not an endangered species, they are a species of special concern, and no one has ever really surveyed their populations on Staten Island. These are the same turtles that they were supposed to look for in the Graniteville Quarry, the finding of which would have prevented their BJ’s project from moving forward.
However, as these scientists discussed, looking for these turtles with humans only is usually a fruitless endeavor. Specially trained dogs, such as Newt, the Eastern Box Turtle finding dog, are needed in order to increase the chances of finding the turtles. With a trained dog, researchers can find about ten times more than with just people searching.
Check out our discussion of the evolution of the Greenbelt on Staten Island, which has both shrunk and expanded, with an overall loss of natural areas, but many unidentified and privately owned greenspaces have been added to the overall amount of greenspace on Staten Island.
The scientists shared with us their passion for turtles, reptiles, lizards, and others. They also discussed why it’s important to survey the population of these turtles, especially on Staten Island.
We also discussed some ways local residents can help them. For example:
- If you see a turtle crossing a road, help him get to the side he was already heading toward. Do not turn them around or take them elsewhere
- Dogs who aren’t trained to detect them or who have predator instinct can kill turtles very quickly. They may pierce its shell, which the turtle won’t survive. Always supervise dogs while walking in wild areas to make sure they don’t hurt one
- They found more than they expected, but anecdotal evidence (local resident testimonies) indicate a significant decline
- If you find one in nature, leave them alone
Banner Image: Anna and Newt. Image Credit – Staten Islander News
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.