It is HAPPENING!!

A fantastic course for new tortoise keepers!

I am super duper over the moon excited to announce what some of you already know… Our first class of students begins October 1, 2020!

This program was created in cooperation with the http://facebook.com/groups/RussianTortoiseOwners group to support their 15,000+ members. But for new keepers, finding your way through a sea of thousands of voices and opinions is challenging. From that need the Academy was born.

For the last 13 years it has been important to me to be support a group like RTO. From it’s one of a kind Help for Emergencies Fund to the tireless efforts of managers all over the world, RTO is always had a great and generous spirit. I am proud of the work done there.

TortRescue Academy is a private place with a small class size where everyone is only either a student or an instructor. The initial 2 weeks of private instruction is designed to be an interactive combination of self guided reading, loads of question and answer time and live discussions.

The following two weeks these students are then released back to the main group. They will not yet be left alone to the wilds of RTO. They will have access to a private group chat with their fellow classmates and an instructor so they can continue learning from whatever issues may be happening in the main group.

The goal is that once students complete this program they will be more confident and have a clear understanding of how to keep their tortoise happy and healthy for many years to come. I am so excited to welcome each new student in October!

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TortRescue Academy

The latest educational outreach program from TortRescue

Announcing the latest educational program from TortRescue! Over the years we have spent many hours working to educate and inform through our in person and online. But are always looking to increase our reach the most important audience we have. Brand new keepers!

This will be a private by invitation only group with a small class size so each student has access to the best education we can offer. Designed to help the newest keepers to get the core information they need to have a healthy tortoise for many years to come.

The goal is to minimize the amount of confusion that comes with being new. Social media is full of confusing opinions and individuals with different backgrounds and levels of expertise. It can be incredibly difficult to determine the one clear, true, voice that is actually offering good, scientific and evidence based information that is healthy and simple to follow.

So watch for updates on this exciting new educational opportunity!

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The Top 5 most achievable conservation efforts for World Turtle Day

Many people would like to help the conservation of these remarkable animals. But How?

Thanks to the ever-increasing awareness brought about by organizations like the American Tortoise Rescue (founders of World Turtle Day-May 23) the Turtle Survival Alliance and many others we understand that there are critical issues facing our shelled friends all over the earth.  But not everyone can jet off to Madagascar or another exotic locale to help those struggling to keep threatened species alive or fight the poaching of thousands for the food and pet black market trade.  These situations are devastating but can seem very far away from the average keeper.

So this year in honor of World Turtle Day I wanted to share with you the top 5 things that I believe EVERYONE can do to help no matter their economic status or ability to find their passport.

1. Increased Plastic Awareness

What does this mean?? I see plastics as one of the largest issues to face our planet. This is 100% a human-generated problem. Plastics did not create themselves. Each disposable spoon, straw, grocery bag and action figure was manufactured, purchased and disposed of.  Why not join me in the simple act of recycling all of our household plastics and when we can, choosing environmentally responsible options to replace them.  When dining out you can either refuse the unnecessary straw(do you actually NEED it?) or bring a reusable one. There are many options nowadays to choose from. From grocery bags made of fabric, reusable stainless steel straws to single-use utensils that safely decompose. But it must start with being more aware of the plastics that come into our lives. That new toy your child wants is likely both made of it and sealed up in it. The medication that you need is likely bottled in it. We won’t remove all of these from our lives entirely or immediately. But how we handle them is entirely within our power.

2. Support a local “Clean Up”

More and more communities are joining together to clean up their local natural habitats. Creek Clean ups, Beachcombing for garbage and Watershed conservation days need volunteers! These are great programs to get children involved in. They get to experience the importance of caring for our environment while having fun and benefiting from your good example. A good sturdy pair of gloves is usually all that is required.  But when there is no organization taking the lead in this there is no rule that says individuals cannot do it for themselves! Advertise on a local community website or bulletin board and hopefully, you will have some help!  With more than 360 native reptile species in the US, the results of this are potentially far greater than many people realize on the wildlife.  But let us also consider that Grassroots efforts are powerful things that can turn strangers into neighbors, friends and community leaders.

3. Reduce your Energy use

This can be a powerful one as reptile keepers we tend to use lots of electricity to keep our scaley friends at their proper temperatures year round. Some of the energy bills here at the rescue are shocking quite frankly. In my efforts to reduce this financial and dirty power burden I have signed up for a Free program called OhmConnect that works through my local (California – PG&E) electric provider and rewards me for reducing my energy consumption during peak hours. My provider first uses clean energy sources and in peak times will purchase dirty energy if they must. By my not consuming energy at this time the demand for dirty power is reduced. I am pleased to say that this is a minor ripple in our lives that my family has quickly become accustomed to. Simply put, when I get notified that an OhmHour is coming up I prepare them in advance. The little one gets out his favorite flashlight. The older one has time to turn off his delicate electronics and make sure the all-important cellphone is charged beforehand. I cover enclosures to retain the heat as much as possible and light a couple of candles.  Then at the designated time… I switch everything off..Yup, the circuit breaker for the entire property is flipped. My choice to flip the big switch is not required by the company. A simple turning off of the lights will often suffice. But the bigger reduction is rewarded for sure. It only lasts for an hour and has not so far caused any negative effect to the enclosure temperatures or my family to be totally electricity free for an hour a few times a week. If you are interested in programs like this check with your local provider or click this link and see if you are eligible to participate in the same program as I do. I might get a little reward for the referral but hey…who doesn’t love that!

4. Support a Local Rescue

OK sooo…yes this one is a tiny bit self serving. Let’s face it, I run a rescue and need help often to do so. But I am not talking about throwing your checkbooks at me. Although I wouldn’t object to that…but support is far more than financial. This is hard, time consuming and often heartbreaking work.  Do you have time to volunteer? Help with transportation of rescues? Having help at a rescue adoption or public outreach event is so important. Let’s face it somebody has to stay with the animals while I go pee. Can you foster a rescue in your home? Having fosters available that can care for the healthy ones while they await their forever homes allows me the room and time to take in more medically challenged cases without sacrificing the quality of care for anyone.  Do you have building supplies that are going unused from an old project? These can be turned into sturdy repairs to enclosures(SULCATAS!) and willing hands are always needed for that job too.  Oftentimes for myself however it is equally important to be told that my work has value to another.  A shoulder to lean..or cry on, someone who is willing to help me bear the emotional toll when things go wrong. We all need some affirmation at times. It is entirely free and yet so very, very valuable. So find a local rescue and lend a hand if you can.  Or visit here…I’ll put you to work for sure!

5. Support a Conservation Group or Research Project

These are bigger and often global efforts where volunteers are working on projects in distant lands. But almost as often there are projects that need support throughout the US. Biological sampling, measuring, weighing, population studies and other scientific research happens wherever the animals are. We still have so much to learn that these research efforts are important. Now again, the purpose of this post here is to offer things that EVERYONE can do and quite simply not everyone is going to able to put on a snorkel and fins and catch turtles from the muddy bottoms of rivers no matter if they are in the far-flung places or their own backyard.  So for those that cannot do so, I will simply say that the importance of SHARING these efforts cannot be overstated. We operate in a digital world nowadays and each company relies on its audience engagement for success. Follow their social media accounts. Share their posts and fundraisers. Sure, give when you can(yard sale anyone?) but even when you cannot financially contribute.. SHARE!

 

I hope this inspires you to take a look at some simple, actionable things that can help you and inspire you to make every day World Turtle Day!

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My First Love

We shall start at the beginning. As all the best things do.

As a girl I was a veritable wild thing. Forever climbing, exploring and rambling.

I grew up in a rural area of California and my parents property was bordered by farms and fields of sheep, horses, cows, snakes and lizards! A paradise for a kid that wanted shenanigans.

The ever constant shadow of my older brother. He was the one with all the big ideas. Football in the field, flying down the hill on the skinniest of skateboards or towed behind his bicycle.  Or visiting the local creek…now there was some trouble meant for me.

I would wade into that creek up to my knees wearing my school jeans without a seconds hesitation and suffer the inevitable consequences when I audibly schlopped through the door and onto moms waxed hardwood floors.

But fortunately, in summer I was free from that worry as I could endlessly live in “Play Clothes” Those magical togs that just didn’t matter enough for mom to fuss about when they walked back in as grimy as ever.

Well it was on one of those sticky summer days when my brother snuck off without me. I was outraged in the way that only an 8 year old that has been left behind can be.

You know the look. Mumbling to myself, kicking at the dirt with my head slung low. How dare he!!

But he made all okay when he presented us with this little living rock he had found down by our favorite muddy spot. It was a Box Turtle!

I was instantly smitten and have remained so ever since.

This early fascination had led to a lifetime in the company of all things scaley. In fact it led directly to a presentation I did for the Central Valley Herpetological Society called Cracking the Shell.

 

CVHS Promo

It has also led to sharing this love with a great group of fellow enthusiasts at my favorite Box Turtle group on Facebook.  If you share our love of these shelled wonders please feel free to join us!  www.facebook.com/groups/BoxTurtleOwners

BTO on Facebook

 

All in all as I consider the first Wonderstruck moment of my life and where it has led me. I would not change a thing.

 

 

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Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!

Those infamous words that start so many blogs are just so very heavy with meaning and possibility. They mean so much! So Very, Very, VERY, much!

Welcome to WordPress  I am Welcome! (aww..Wordpress loves me)

This is your first post      My FIRST POST….What do you mean? I’m not ready for this.. Wait..(insert freak out and self doubt here)

(insert the guilt about the calories in the pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream you just stress ate here)

(insert every moment of empowerment, prayer, coaching and a few chapters of the latest business book here)

(insert the undeniable knowledge that you have something to say here)

Edit or delete it, then start writing!  Wait what am I supposed to do? I thought this was supposed to be easy? How do I edit this stupid thing? Should I delete it instead? Why didn’t I get that second pint of Ben and Jerry’s? Who is actually going to want to read about my crazy life with REPTILES… What was I thinking??

 

So there you go folks, my very first post.  Impressive huh…

Hello World!

 

 

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