Excerpted from MassWildlife News, February 2007

DONATE TO THE WILD THINGS ON YOUR STATE TAX FORM

 Since 1983, Massachusetts tax filers have had the option of donating to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund while filing their state income tax form (Line 32).  When you contribute to the fund, you help to protect and restore rare and endangered animals, plants, and their habitats.  Past donations have helped conserve and restore in the Commonwealth populations of the Bald Eagle, Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly, the Redbelly Cooter, and the beautiful Eastern Silvery Aster.  Donations to the Fund may also be made year round by sending a check made out to:  Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund and sent to:  MassWildlife Field HQ, NHESP, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd., Westborough, MA  01581.  Check the Natural Heritage area of MassWildlife’s website:  www.mass.gov/masswildlife to learn more about the work that your donations support.

TUNING IN TO TURTLES!

 With spring just around the corner, turtle enthusiasts can now acquire several new turtle related items produced by MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and other conservation partners.  Posters and a DVED focusing on Massachusetts native terrestrial and freshwater aquatic turtles (not including sea turtles) are not available from the agency.

 Educators, conservation commissioners, environmental organizations and consulting firms will find “Turtles of Massachusetts” and “Hatchling Turtles of Massachusetts” posters valuable tools aiding the identifying physical and habitat characteristics of adult and juvenile turtle.  “Turtles of Massachusetts” includes images of 10 native adult turtles, with views of the carapace (upper shell), the plastron (lower shell) and a hatchling turtle.  Information about each turtle’s population status, size, identifying field marks, description of habitat and distribution in the state are also provided.  A paragraph on assisting turtles across roads is also included.  “Hatchling Turtles of Massachusetts” illustrates 10 native hatchling images with carapace and plastron views, egg clutch size, season of hatchling emergence, physical description, population status and the range of these turtles in Massachusetts.  Threats to hatchling turtles are also briefly described.

 These posters were a collaborative effort supported by MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, the Vernal Pool Association, and the University of Massachusetts/Boston Electronic Field Guide supported by the National Science Foundation.

 The turtle DVD, “An Introduction to The Turtles of Massachusetts; Why They Need Our Help!” is 12 minutes in length.  It features information about rare turtles including interviews of a variety of turtle experts, major threats to turtles and ways in which people can help turtles.  “People of all ages and walks of life have had experiences with turtles and are fascinated with these animals,” said Lori Erb, Turtle Conservation Biologiest with MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.  “Our purpose was to promote greater public awareness about the status and threats to native turtles and also to provide useful information for those people who want to assist turtles.”  Erb noted that the DVD was produced by college students enrolled in Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts.  “It was a great learning experience for the students—not only about the production process, but also the challenges of filming in a variety of environments.  We’re grateful for their efforts.”

 Turtle posters are free and can be picked up at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough and MassWildlife District offices in Acton, Bourne, W. Boylston, Belchertown and Pittsfield.  The DVD is also available in those offices.  Cost for the DVD is $5 but is free for educators.

To follow the developments of matters pertaining to wildlife and environmental protection visit the website of the National Wildlife Federation at http://www.nwf.org/enviroaction

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