Turtlewife newsletter/Maryland ending terrapins in the classroom pr

[Todd Stockwell]

Todd Stockwell

January 21, 2003 at 3:50 pm #18234

If you haven’t signed up for the new Turtlewife newsletter, I highly recommend it! The current issue includes a reference to a story about Maryland ending the terrapins in the classroom program and DNR switching towards habitat preservation. The story hits on the expected pros and cons – well worth a read. Anyone on the list close enough to this to give us more info. and perspective? Among the reasons cited for ending the official programs are concerns over the baby terrapins picking up viruses from children and carrying disease into the wild, the school children getting salmonella from the turtles, and increasing competition amongst schools for the hatchlings. There are quotes from past participants defending the record that no terrapin or child has been observed with illness. The DNR officials admit that the habitat protection program doesn’t have nearly the public relations appeal as the terrapins in the classroom, etc. Supporters are quoted who would advocate doing both – continuing the classroom nurseries as well as habitat protection, since the schools aparently paid for most or all of the nursery costs to begin with. An official is quoted as saying that the disease questions needs to be worked out, but no plans are mentioned for the scientists who voiced the concerns to now examine the issues. ToddDo you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus – Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

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