|
|
|
George Patton and Martha Messinger of Bastrop share a singular mission: To rehabilitate and research the Louisiana three-toed box turtle.
The husband and wife team have been caring for sick and injured turtles for the past 19 years, and are the only licensed turtle and tortoise rehabilitators in the state.
Their interest in turtles began when Patton found one in their yard. The turtle’s curious behavior piqued their interest.
“Most turtles will close up inside their shells,” Messinger said. “But this one was running around all over the place, eating our sunflower sprouts.”
Research into this particular species led Patton and Messinger to discover no licensed turtle rehabilitators were in Louisiana. They sought training and applied for permits to fill the need.
“We had to set up an intensive care center, which is basically a box in a warm part of the house,” Messinger said. “We also had to set up an outside isolation area.”
Today, Patton and Messinger are members of the Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (LAWRA), a nonprofit organization providing assistance and resources to licensed rehabilitators.
LAWRA is the state’s second-largest wildlife conservation group and includes veterinarians, conservationists and others.
Patton and Messinger work with veterinarians in Monroe and the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo.
“When a turtle is brought to us, the first thing we do is determine whether it’s sick or injured,” Messinger said. “In the fall, it’s very common for box turtles to get respiratory infections. That’s treatable with antibiotics.”
Turtles are often injured by vehicles or human cruelty. Messinger recalls an early case in which a turtle was brought to her with a bullet-pierced carapace.
“You could see its lung tissue,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something.’ We took it to the vet and he put an epoxy patch on its shell. They have the ability to regenerate their shells if the wound is covered.”
Turtles with damaged spines are less fortunate. Messinger said a turtle was brought to her with spinal injury and paralysis that could not be saved. Some turtles, such as those with head trauma, must be euthanized.
“Cars, tractors, lawnmowers, just about any kind mechanical vehicle can injure turtles,” Patton said.
The couple has published several studies on turtle reproduction in “Herpetological Review,” “Louisiana Academy of Science” and other journals. Patton said much of their knowledge comes from hatching and raising baby turtles.
George Patton and Martha Messinger of Bastrop share a singular mission: To rehabilitate and research the Louisiana three-toed box turtle.
The husband and wife team have been caring for sick and injured turtles for the past 19 years, and are the only licensed turtle and tortoise rehabilitators in the state.
Their interest in turtles began when Patton found one in their yard. The turtle’s curious behavior piqued their interest.
“Most turtles will close up inside their shells,” Messinger said. “But this one was running around all over the place, eating our sunflower sprouts.”
Research into this particular species led Patton and Messinger to discover no licensed turtle rehabilitators were in Louisiana. They sought training and applied for permits to fill the need.
“We had to set up an intensive care center, which is basically a box in a warm part of the house,” Messinger said. “We also had to set up an outside isolation area.”
Today, Patton and Messinger are members of the Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (LAWRA), a nonprofit organization providing assistance and resources to licensed rehabilitators.
LAWRA is the state’s second-largest wildlife conservation group and includes veterinarians, conservationists and others.
Patton and Messinger work with veterinarians in Monroe and the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo.
“When a turtle is brought to us, the first thing we do is determine whether it’s sick or injured,” Messinger said. “In the fall, it’s very common for box turtles to get respiratory infections. That’s treatable with antibiotics.”
Turtles are often injured by vehicles or human cruelty. Messinger recalls an early case in which a turtle was brought to her with a bullet-pierced carapace.
“You could see its lung tissue,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something.’ We took it to the vet and he put an epoxy patch on its shell. They have the ability to regenerate their shells if the wound is covered.”
Turtles with damaged spines are less fortunate. Messinger said a turtle was brought to her with spinal injury and paralysis that could not be saved. Some turtles, such as those with head trauma, must be euthanized.
“Cars, tractors, lawnmowers, just about any kind mechanical vehicle can injure turtles,” Patton said.
The couple has published several studies on turtle reproduction in “Herpetological Review,” “Louisiana Academy of Science” and other journals. Patton said much of their knowledge comes from hatching and raising baby turtles.
“We use a chicken incubator with vermiculite,” Patton said. “The eggs hatch in about 60 days. Humidity and temperature are critical. Higher temperatures produce females, and lower temperatures produce males.”
Although primarily interested in three-toed box turtles, Messinger said they once raised baby snapping turtles.
“We had a snapping turtle once that was laying her eggs in the road. We gathered the eggs, incubated them and had 11 baby snapping turtles.”
The young turtles are kept in a nursery for two years before they are released.
Nearly two decades after the first turtle wandered into their yard, Patton and Messinger said they plan to continue caring for turtles and contributing to the scientific dialogue on them.
“We don’t take in as many as we used to,” Messinger said. “But if someone brings us an injured or sick turtle, we’ll take care of it.”
