Tag: Red Bellied Cooters


My Work at the NMLC

diamondback terrapin

I started doing work with the Red Bellied Cooters a few short weeks ago. So far I’m loving it. I get to go home to my younger sister (who is a huge turtle lover) and brag about what I get to do all day. I started an internship here through my school. Instead of going […]

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What is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

Metobolic Bone Disease

Reptiles require sunlight to truly flourish. Most reptile species do not absorb Vitamin D very well, so exposure to ultraviolet light is needed for reptiles to manufacture their own Vitamin D. This is something very important to keep in mind because Vitamin D (especially D3, the active form of Vitamin D) is vital to calcium […]

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Northern Red-Bellied Cooters release approaching- Getting a “Head Start”!

headstart program

With all the diverse wildlife in Massachusetts, the Northern red-bellied cooter is one of the most beautiful…and endangered!  The Northern red-bellied cooter population of Massachusetts lives more than 250 miles from the rest of the species who inhabit areas of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1980. In 1984, […]

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The Hatchlings Have Arrived

headstart program

The Red Bellied Cooters hatchlings arrived early this year. Last week our staff and volunteers  traveled to Westboro MA to collect our 2012-2013 class of Red Bellied Cooter hatchlings from the field office of the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program of the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife. We received 8 tiny hatchlings again this […]

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Brittany’s Internship Week 1

Cape Wildlife Center

This week was VERY  busy. I started on Monday morning; got the tour of the Discovery center, the hospital and the rest of the building. I met the patients we had at the time, which consisted of Teanna (a Diamondback Terrapin), Catch 22 (a Red-Bellied Cooter) and the 8 Hatchlings that we received through the  […]

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Internship Week One

hatchling release

My first week at the National Marine Life Center has been all that I could hope for. The great group of staff members and volunteers has welcomed me and has already made me feel comfortable at my new internship. In addition to getting to know everyone at NMLC, I have learned a lot about caring […]

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