California Turtle & Tortoise Club the Tortuga Gazette Founded in 1964 and dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Education Volume 54, Number 1 | January/February 2018 1

Spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata. Photo © 2000 by Bernard DuPont. Source: Creative Commons; license: CC-BY-SA-2.0. Spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata (Schneider, 1792)

The Singular Clemmys Turtle by M. A. Cohen he last remaining member turtle is a very small, semiaquatic marked by small round yellow spots, of the genus Clemmys, the species that is indigenous to North which “are transparent ‘windows’ spotted turtle is threatened America. The species’ scientific in the scutes overlaying deposits of Tthroughout its range. Prior to 1994, name, Clemmys guttata, derives yellow pigment” that may fade with the genus Clemmys also included from the Greek root word klemmys, age, leaving older spotted turtles the Western pond turtle, now known meaning a tortoise, and the Latin without carapacial spots (Ernst and as Actinemys marmorata, the wood root word gutta, meaning a drop or Lovich, 2009). The moderately flat- turtle, now known as Glyptemys a spot. tened carapace is smooth and lacks insculpta, and the bog turtle, now Description both keels and serrated marginal known as Glyptemys muhlenbergii. With a maximum straight-line scutes (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Based on DNA evidence, chelonian carapace length of 5.6 inches (14.25 The plastron of the spotted turtle biologists reassigned these three centimeters), the spotted turtle is yellow to yellow-orange in color species to their current genera, leav- generally grows to 4.5 inches (11.4 with a dark blotch on each plastral ing the spotted turtle as the solitary centimeters) in length. scute. Age-related melanism (dark- species in the genus Clemmys. The distinctively patterned cara- ening) of the plastron may occur, Officially described by the Ger- pace of C. guttata is bluish-black, resulting in older individuals with man naturalist Johann G. Schneider brownish-black, or pure black entirely black plastrons. (1750-1822) in 1792, the spotted 2 January/February 2018

The Singular Clemmys Turtle by M. A. Cohen 1 C Texas to Propose End to Unlimited Turtle Trapping in Texas 4 O The Turtle’s Garden: Portulaca, Moss Rose 6 Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph. D. 7 N The Illegal Turtle Trade: Why Scientists Keep Secrets by Prof. Jacqueline Litzgus 8 T Scrubbing the GPS Data from Digital Photographs 9 E Your Tortoise as a Winter Roommate by Karen Berry 10 Burmese Star Tortoise Makes Meteoric Comeback 12 N Meetings and Programs; Classified Ads 13 T Rare and Endangered Turtles/Tortoises in the Basement of City Hall 14 2018 CTTC Directory 15 S TIRN Statement on Commercial Fishing in American’s National Marine Monuments 16

The head of C. guttata is black based on the sexes of the individu- central Ohio, northern Indiana, and with a pattern of small, round, als, sexual dimorphism is evident in Michigan to northeastern Illinois” yellow dots and a notched upper C. guttata, accordingly, differences (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). jaw. There is usually a large yellow in several physical characteristics Inhabiting a narrow variety of or orange blotch on each side the readily distinguish the male from the ecosystems within its fragmented turtle’s head. On the upper surfaces female spotted turtle. range, C. guttata prefers wetlands of its limbs, neck, and tail, the skin Aside from having longer, thicker with shallow water bodies such as of the species is black or gray with tails than those of the females, male bogs, marshes, pools, small streams, scattered small, round, yellow dots, spotted turtles are slightly smaller swamps, and wet meadows with while the lower surface of its limbs, overall at maturity, with a maximum clean, clear water, a soft bottom, and neck and tail “can be orange, pink, carapace length of 4.8 inches (12.2 submerged vegetation. or salmon-red” (Ernst and Lovich, centimeters). The males display a Diet 2009). tan, brown, or black chin, brown The spotted turtle being an om- eyes, and a mod- nivore, it ingests a variety of food erately concave items that are usually consumed plastron (Ernst and in the water. Green algae, aquatic Lovich, 2009). grasses, water lily seeds, wild cran- In comparison, berries, and other aquatic plants female spotted form the plant portion of the diet. turtles are larger Ingesting many types of inverte- than the males, brate food items, C. guttata con- with a maximum sumes ants, aquatic insects (both carapace length of adults and larvae), beetles, beetle 5.6 inches (14.25 grubs, butterfly and moth larvae, centimeters). The crickets, crustaceans, grasshoppers, females display a millipedes, slugs, snails, spiders, and yellow chin, orange worms. eyes, and a flat Vertebrate foods include fish, or slightly convex frogs, salamanders, and toads. The Spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata, basking near carnivorous pitcher plastron (Ernst and plants. Photo © 2009 by Ontley. Source: Wikimedia Commons; license: species prefers live foods but will CC-BY-SA-4.0. Lovich, 2009). also eat carrion (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). There are no recognized subspe- Range and Habitat cies of C. guttata. Moreover, very Ranging from southern Ontario Seasonal Activity Cycle little geographic variation exists in Canada to southern Florida in A species that is primarily diurnal from one population to another with the United States, the spotted turtle (active during the day), the spotted regard to physical appearance. occurs from “Maine southward turtle has “one of the shortest annual along the Atlantic Coastal Plain and activity cycles in North America,” Sexual Dimorphism Piedmont to...Florida and westward... according to Ernst and Lovich. The Defined as representing two forms through New York, Pennsylvania, species spends daylight hours occu- Volume 54, Number 1 3 pied with foraging and basking, and Seeking favored nesting spots with predators include water snakes and nighttime submerged at the bottom good drainage in full sunlight, most common snapping turtles. Many of its water body (Department of females leave the breeding pools by mammals utilize the species as a Environmental Conservation, n.d.). late May and journey overland, often food resource, including raccoons, In March or April, the spotted returning to the same nesting loca- foxes, feral dogs, feral cats, muskrats, turtle typically emerges from its tion year after year. Generally nest- and skunks (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). winter dormancy and remains active ing at night, females lay one to three Putting the future of the spotted through September, October, or No- clutches of eggs per season compris- turtle at risk, environmental threats vember, depending on geographical ing two to seven eggs per clutch. include habitat degradation, frag- factors such as latitude. mentation, and loss, The activity level of the spotted collection for the pet turtle, which is most active during trade, invasive plants the cooler periods of its seasonal adversely affecting cycle, declines as the air temperature wetlands, mortality re- rises, and it enters a state of aestiva- sulting from road traffic tion (summer dormancy) when the and agricultural equip- temperature reaches 86°F (30°C). ment, and subsidized The species often aestivates in the predators near devel- water in mammal burrows or lodges, oped areas (van Dijk, or at the bottom of a pool with 2011). slowly moving water. The turtle may Conservation travel to an upland location to aesti- In Canada, C. gut- vate in a terrestrial burrow or under tata is legally protected vegetation (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). in the provinces of Most mating activity occurs while Spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata, photographed at the Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky. Photo © 2013 by Ltshears. Source: Quebec and Ontario, spotted turtles are most active during Creative Commons; license: CC-BY-SA 3.0. as well as within several the March-to-May mating season, states in the United but they may also mate at any time Incubation takes some 44 to 83 States (van Dijk, 2011). The IUCN during the active cycle. days, with higher temperatures re- Red List designates the species as Winter dormancy typically begins sulting in faster development (Animal “Endangered.” in early to mid-autumn, with C. Diversity Web, n.d.). Hatchlings In 2013 C. guttata was listed as guttata retreating into underwater hi- generally emerge from their nests in CITES II by the Convention on Inter- bernacula such as muskrat burrows. August and September, but some- national Trade in Endangered Spe- Biologists have documented spotted times overwinter within their nests. cies, affording it some international turtles brumating singly or commu- Temperature-dependent sex de- legal protection. r nally with their own species as well termination (TSD) is the mechanism as with other turtle species such as through which a hatchling’s sex is References bog turtles (Glyptemys mulhenber- regulated by the temperature of the Animal Diversity Web. (n.d.). Clemmys guttata gii). Spotted turtles also brumate on nest during the period of incubation. Spotted turtle. [online] Available at: http:// land in burrows with air tempera- The TSD pattern known as “TSD-1a” animaldiversity.org/accounts/Clemmys_gut- tata/ tures that are significantly warmer affects the development of spotted ARKive. (2017). Spotted turtle (Clemmys gut- than the air temperature outside the turtle hatchlings. At incubation tem- tata). [online] Available at: http://www. burrow (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). peratures between 72.5 and 80.6°F arkive.org/spotted-turtle/clemmys-guttata/ Reproduction (22.5 and 27°C), the spotted turtle Department of Environmental Conservation. Estimates of the age of reproduc- hatchlings are predominantly male, (2017). Spotted Turtle Fact Sheet. [online] while at an incubation temperature Available at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/ani- tive maturity in the species range mals/7150.html from seven and 15 years. C. guttata of 86°F (30°C), the hatchlings are 100% female (Ernst and Lovich, Ernst, C. and Lovich, J. (2009). Turtles of the begins its annual mating season United States and Canada. 2nd ed. Balti- shortly after emergence from bruma- 2009). more, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp.212-221 tion. The height of the mating season Threats van Dijk, P. (2011). Clemmys guttata. (errata ver- is March to May, when most mating Many natural predators exploit sion published in 2016). [online] The IUCN occurs in shallow breeding pools. the eggs, juveniles, and adults of the Red List of Threatened Species. Avail- Following mating season, nesting C. guttata species. Avian predators able at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN. season occurs from May to July include crows, large wading birds, UK.2011-1.RLTS.T4968A11103766.en. (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). and bald eagles. Recorded reptile 4 January/February 2018

Texas to Propose Ending Unlimited Commercial Wild Turtle Trapping —Nationwide Efforts to Ban Unsustainable Reptile Collection Gain Momentum—Center for Biological Diversity press release Austin, Texas—15 November 2017—In lection of freshwater turtles.” these animals as an invaluable part response to a petition filed by the The department’s letter says turtles of state ecosystems.” Center for Biological Diversity and are “[a]mong the nongame species The petition that spurred Tuesday’s several Texas-based conservation of greatest concern” and are “highly action was submitted earlier this year organizations, the Texas Parks and sensitive to population alterations.” by the Center for Biological Diver- Wildlife Department on Tuesday Department staff plans to propose a sity, Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter, agreed to propose a rule ending rulemaking at a future commission Texas Rivers Protection Association unlimited commercial trapping of the meeting. and Texas Snake Initiative. state’s wild turtles. Background “We’re so grateful these badly As part of a campaign to protect needed protections for Texas’ rare, turtles in the United States, the Cen- native turtles are moving forward,” ter for Biological Diversity has been said Jenny Loda, a Center attorney petitioning states that allow unre- and biologist who works to protect stricted commercial turtle collection vulnerable reptiles and amphibians. to improve their regulations. Last “A few for-profit collectors shouldn’t month, the Missouri Department of be allowed to put the state’s turtles at Conservation proposed a ban on risk of extinction. We’re hopeful the unlimited commercial collection of Texas Parks and Wildlife Commis- Texas spiny softshell turtle, Apalone spinifera. Photo by the state’s wild freshwater turtles. sion will do the right thing and ban Gary M. Stolz, USFWS. Public domain. In September, Nevada created a this harmful turtle trade.” statewide ban on the destructive Texas is the latest in a list of states “This is great news for Texas’s commercial collection of all reptiles, to ban or propose ending commer- freshwater turtles and for all of us and New York halted all commercial cial reptile collection. who care about the health of the terrapin turtle harvesting. Under current Texas law, unlimited state’s rivers,” said Tom Goynes, Before that, in March, Iowa collection of four native, freshwater president of the Texas Rivers Pro- adopted new regulations setting turtle species is allowed on private tection Association. “Commercial closed seasons and possession limits property: common snapping turtles, trapping is devastating to turtle for commercial turtle trappers. In red-eared sliders, smooth softshells populations that are already suffering 2012 Georgia approved state rules and spiny softshells. from multiple other threats, includ- regulating the commercial collection Texas modified its regulations in ing habitat loss, water pollution and of turtles, and Alabama completely 2007 to protect freshwater turtles vehicular collisions.” banned commercial collection. And from collection on its public lands Millions of turtles classified as in 2009 Florida responded by ban- and waters. But this only resulted in wild-caught are exported from the ning almost all commercial collec- protections for turtles in 2.2 percent United States every year to supply tion of freshwater turtles from public of the water bodies in Texas. Recent food and medicinal markets in Asia. and private waters. studies concluded that current turtle Because turtles bioaccumulate toxins Texas is in a regional hotspot for collection in Texas is likely not sus- from prey and burrow in contami- commercial turtle collectors. If the tainable. nated sediment, turtle meat is often state created closed seasons and The Parks and Wildlife Depart- laced with mercury, PCBs and bag limits within its borders, adja- ment’s response to the conservation pesticides, posing a health risk. Adult cent states would likely follow its organizations’ petition came in a turtles are also taken from the wild example; the region would be better letter to the Texas Parks and Wildlife to breed hatchlings for the interna- equipped to protect its turtle popula- Commissioners. In it, the depart- tional pet trade. tions by making clear to turtle traders ment’s executive director, Carter “The future of Texas turtles is now that trade is strictly regulated and Smith, wrote that a review of the in the hands of the Department enforced. petition, along with scientific litera- of Parks and Wildlife and wildlife The Center recently petitioned ture and the department’s own data, commissioners,” said Loda. “We’re for a ban on unlimited commercial led to the conclusion that “there is pleased the department is taking this trapping in Arkansas, Louisiana and sufficient scientific justification at step toward restricting commercial Oklahoma, three states that share a this time to proceed to rulemaking to turtle collection. We urge the com- border with Texas. r end the unlimited commercial col- mission to fully and finally protect Volume 54, Number 1 5 6 January/February 2018

the Portulaca grandiflora (Moss Rose) Turtle’s Garden planting for chelonians by M A Cohen ith plump leaves and like. Other growing stems that have a spongy options include W internal structure, moss containers such as rose is, botanically speaking, a hanging baskets and semisucculent plant species. When tall, freestanding using this term, botanists refer to the containers. ability of the species to store some The reddish Closeup of moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) flowers and leaves. Photo © 2010 by Biswarup Ganguly. Source: Creative Commons; amount of moisture in its tissues. stems of moss rose license CC-BY-3.0. Because of this ability, moss rose is hold medium- to quite drought- and heat-resistant and dark-green, Culture thrives in sunny, arid soils, making it cylinder-shaped leaves to 1 inch (2.5 Tolerant of a wide variety of well-suited for southwestern regions centimeters) in length. Resembling garden conditions, moss rose of the United States. small roses, Portulaca flowers are 1 grows well in average to poor soils, Description to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) provided the soil drains properly and Also known as rose moss and in diameter, and offer colors ranging the exposure offers full sun. sun rose, moss rose is an annual from white and cream through bright Even though the plant is tolerant species, meaning it completes its pastels to cerise and purple (Christ- of dry conditions, light watering is life cycle in a single growing season. man, 2003). In addition to single necessary, and moderate watering The plant provides a profusion of colors, flowers also occur in bicolors may be needed for a more vigorous vibrant, multicolored blossoms, and and tricolors, and in single- and appearance during the hottest self-sows, promoting the develop- double-flowering forms. weather. Timely pruning promotes a ment of the next generation of moss Flowering occurs from late neater, more compact plant. rose in the garden. While all varieties spring through fall in mild climates. Fertilizer is unnecessary; in fact, it self-sow, some hybrids will “fail Opening in bright sunlight, flowers may promote vegetative growth at to come true from seed,” i.e., the typically close by mid-afternoon and the expense of flowering. Pests and hybrid will revert to its parent plants’ remain closed on cloudy days. A diseases are rarely an issue when the characteristics rather than reproduce few hybrids remain open until late plant is grown correctly. its hybrid appearance. afternoon (Brenzel, 2012). While P. grandiflora tolerates Depending on the authority intense heat, it will not tolerate frost, consulted, there are 40 to 100+ spe- and the first fall frost will generally cies in the genus Portulaca, annual, kill off moss rose. biennial, and perennial members of As mentioned, moss rose will the Portulacaceae family. Thriving in self-sow, which can be desirable temperate climates worldwide, many or unwelcome, depending on species are native to South America, the situation. Deadheading, the including P. grandiflora, which is removal of spent flowers, is one native to Argentina, Brazil, and way to discourage invasiveness Uruguay (Griep, n.d.). by trimming the flowers before With its trailing growth habit, they set seed. Or, prevent the moss rose is an excellent ground plant from becoming invasive by cover for an area without foot removing its seedlings soon after traffic. Reaching up to six inches they sprout. tall and up to 18 inches in spread, Close-up of a moss rose blossom in a pink/white Edibility moss rose is a suitable ground cover bicolor, double-flowering form. Photo © 2010 by When consulting reliable for borders, parking strips, gently Ton Rulkens. Source: Creative Commons; license sources listing databases of edible CC-BY-SA-2.0. sloping banks, rock gardens, and the Volume 54, Number 1 7 and toxic plants, some contradictory information emerges regarding moss Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. rose. A few databases geared toward A varied selection of recent articles, stories and sites on the Web that some of you mammals (cats, dogs, and horses) list may find as interesting as I did. This list is also posted at tortoise.org/turtlenetpicks P. grandiflora as toxic. Conversely, other databases focusing on animals Peter Pritchard Awarded Archie Surveying Aldabra Tortoises | Carr Medal | This year’s winners of Seychelles Islands Foundation in general list moss rose as a safe the prestigious Archie F. Carr Medal researchers have added distance (non-toxic) plant. are his former students Peter Pritchard sampling to the monitoring methods Many websites aimed at tortoise and Karen Bjorndal. Congratulations used to track giant tortoises on the keepers indicate that P. grandiflora from CTTC to both! Aldabra atoll. is safe for planting in tortoise enclo- Long Beach Sea Turtle Release | Columbia’s Dahl’s Toad-headed sures. Some keepers even report A rehabilitated green sea turtle was Turtle in Dire Straits | The rare intentionally feeding their tortoises released close to where it was found Dahl’s Toad-headed Turtle, Meso- the flowers and leaves of moss rose, at the mouth of the San Gabriel River clemmys dahli, is threatened with in Long Beach. extinction due to alarmingly small which the tortoises eagerly consume and fragmented populations and high with no ill effects. What To Do If You Find a levels of inbreeding. As with any unfamiliar landscaping Stranded Sea Turtle | This article on “what to do if you find a stranded Rhode Island Spotted Turtles at plant or food item, it is advisable sea turtle in Oregon” also applies Risk | New survey indicates that to introduce a small amount of it to California. Be sure to check out spotted turtles are in trouble in Rhode into the enclosure and observe the the maps at the end that show turtle Island. reaction of the tortoise to it. r movements off California. Alligator Snapping Turtle Found in Illinois | Researchers found the References El Salvador Sea Turtle Die-off | As many as 300 to 400 deceased sea first wild alligator snapping turtle seen Brenzel, K. (2012). The New Sunset Western turtles were found off the coast of El in Illinois since 1984 while looking for Garden Book. 9th ed. New York, NY: Time Salvador in Jiquilisco Bay. The cause a released head-started one! Home Entertainment Inc., pp.525-26 Christman, S. (2003). Portulaca grandiflora. is as yet unknown but may be due to a red tide. Snapping Turtles Threatened By [online] Floridata Plant Encyclopedia. Avail- Harvesting | Research shows com- able at: https://floridata.com/Plants/Portu- Down-Under Lizards Feast- mercial harvest of snapping turtles is lacaceae/Portulaca%20grandiflora/623 ing On Turtle Eggs | Now that causing population declines. Griep, S. (n.d.). Portulaca Flower: Tips For introduced European foxes have been Portulaca Care. [online] Gardening Know How. Available at: https://www.gardening- controlled, yellow necked goannas – Hibernating Painted Turtles Use knowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/portu- truly magnificent Australian monitor Cloacal Respiration | That turtles laca/portulaca-plants.htm lizards – are taking first dibs at eggs in can exchange gases across their Loggerhead sea turtle nests. cloacal mucosa is not new but that Turtle Conservancy Turtles & didn’t stop the media from having a field day touting how “butt-breathing” Tortoises Evacuated | Tortoises helps painted turtles survive Canadian and turtles from the Ojai Turtle Con- winters! servancy forced to evacuate ahead of the Thomas Fire are enjoying a Turtle Associated Salmonella relaxing vacation at their refuge in Outbreak | The Centers for Disease Atascadero City Hall basement. Control reported an additional 29 Bolson Tortoise Habitat Protect- cases of Salmonella agbeni infection in people linked to contact with pet ed | The privately-owned 43,243 turtles, bringing the total to 66 cases acre Rancho San Ignacio in northern from 18 states. Of 53 people with Mexico has been acquired by Rainfor- available information, 23 have been est Trust, Habio, A.C., and the Turtle hospitalized. No deaths have been Conservancy as a preserve to protect reported. the Bolson tortoise, the largest and rarest species of Gopherus. CTTC On Facebook | For break- Evolution of Shell Shape in Gala- ing news updates, visit and “like” us pagos Tortoises | New research on Facebook! comparing the abilities of domed and saddle-backed giant tortoises to right themselves when overturned finds that having a saddle-backed shell helps tortoises right themselves in rocky terrain. Moss rose display at the Annual Flower Show in Kolkata, India. Photo © 2013 by Biswarup Ganguly. Source: Creative Commons; license CC BY 3.0. 8 January/February 2018

The illegal turtle trade: Why scientists keep secrets by Jacqueline Litzgus, Professor, Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada is a major threat to animal population relies on adult females. populations. A female’s reproductive lifespan is Turtles are not excused unencumbered by menopause; in from such exploitation, fact, she gets better with age. Older which includes unsustainable females produce bigger and better harvesting and bycatch during clutches of eggs. But those eggs other resource extraction and juveniles are tasty morsels for activities such as fishing. Turtles numerous predators — most don’t “Spotted Turtles concentrate at breeding sites in the and tortoises are eaten with make it to adulthood, although they spring making them an easy target for poachers.” Clem- religious zeal, their eggs and do contribute to food webs in an mys guttata. Public domain photograph. body parts consumed under important way. false promises of improved But that’s OK. As long as the adult I could tell you where I work, but health, greater longevity and a better females survive, they can hedge then I’d have to kill you. sex life. their bets by producing clutches of OK, not really; that seems Many species are collected for the eggs every year, banking on a payoff extreme. But I might blindfold you pet trade. Their generally passive in a good year, so that each female if I took you there. Now you’re demeanour and amazing beauty replaces herself and the population wondering what kind of work could have contributed to turtle declines, continues on according to natural justify such secrecy. as these traits are highly valued in processes. I bet you aren’t thinking “turtles.” pets. So that’s why I can’t tell you where Turtles are in trouble. Some The reproductive adults collected I work. You see, you might be a researchers have even used the from the wild for the pet trade turtle poacher. I trust no one, and I term “crisis” to describe their plight. are essentially dead, as far as the want my turtles to remain safe and This turtle decline is a global issue, population is concerned. Take one sound in the wild. affecting freshwater turtles, tortoises from its habitat and the potential Two of the species that my and sea turtles. Two-thirds of turtle for future babies is gone. No babies research group works on, Spotted species are at risk of extinction. means, eventually, no population. Turtles (Clemmys guttata) and Wood After more than 200 million Turtles are bet-hedgers. Once an Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), are years of plodding around the globe individual gets past the dicey egg listed as endangered in Ontario, and unchallenged and anatomically and juvenile stages, it is essentially are highly sought after by the pet unchanged, turtles could now be immortal — barring encounters with trade. facing their final lap. any human threats. Individual turtles One of the Wood Turtle popu- We’re their biggest threat. Turtles can live for decades, some for more lations in Ontario was hit by a are crushed by cars and buried than a century. suspected poaching event in the alive by bulldozers. Their habitats But the persistence of the 1990s. I say “suspected” because no are whittled away by our insatiable one has yet been able to prove it. appetite for big box stores and Here’s the story: 70 per cent of waterfront condos. the turtles disappeared in a blink Their otherwise formidable shells of time, and we didn’t find their were not designed to withstand bodies. The evidence suggested these human assaults, because that their vanishing was not due to humans weren’t a threat when this a mass predation event or a disease turtle armour was first making its outbreak. appearance in evolutionary time. Word on the street is that some The World Wildlife Fund of those turtles are still alive in Living Planet Report asserts that a basement in Ottawa, where populations of vertebrate animals they are being used to pump out have decreased in abundance by offspring to be sold in the pet trade. 58 per cent in the past 50 years. What remains of that Ontario Over-exploitation, second only Captive wood turtle, Glyptemys insculpta. Public population has been subjected to to habitat loss and degradation, domain photograph. Volume 54, Number 1 9 intensive and expensive management for 15 years in an attempt to bring it Scrubbing the GPS Data from back from the brink of its projected Digital Photographs by M. A. Cohen extinction. So how did the alleged poacher As the preceding article makes Of course, images intended for find out about the population? abundantly clear, the localities of posting on personal, educational, Good question, but hard to answer. sensitive wildlife habitats must be and other types of websites should Research began at the site in the safeguarded in order to protect the be scrubbed of EXIF files as well. late 1980s. The scientists thought imperiled species that inhabit those How to Access the GPS their data reports would be safe in ecosystems. Data of your Photos their desk drawers and bookshelves. There is growing awareness If the GPS data (location services) But then came the internet and the among wildlife biologists, con- settings on a smartphone or camera digital age, and it became easier for servationists, researchers, and are enabled, that information will the general public access to such photographers of the necessity to be automatically added to the EXIF documents. protect sensitive ecosystems by metadata of a photograph. The turtle trade has been com- removing the global positioning sys- The procedure one uses to access pared to the gun and drug trades; tem (GPS) data embedded in their the EXIF data will vary depending it is that networked, clandestine digital photographs, a process com- on a number of factors, including and lucrative. Young, purportedly monly called “scrubbing the GPS the device being used to capture captive-bred Wood Turtles sell for data.” the image, and the hardware and hundreds of dollars a piece on the What is EXIF Metadata? software being used to process the internet. Adults are hard to find for An abbreviation for Exchangeable image. sale. They are often the wild-caught Image File, EXIF is the format for Most operating systems have a individuals and kept as breeders. the metadata that is automatically built-in capability for displaying Within just a few years, two turtles embedded in any JPEG, RAW or EXIF data embedded in images. can become dozens, and can net a TIFF image captured using a current Often a simple right-click on the poacher thousands of dollars in the camera phone or digital camera image opens a context menu from legal trade. with GPS capabilities. In addition which one can choose “Get Info” I recently attended a scientific to the date and time of the image (on MacOS) or “Properties” (on conference focused, not surprisingly, capture, and technical data such Windows) to access the these data. on turtles. Even in this situation, as aperture, shutter speed and fo- Software such as Adobe Photo- surrounded by like-minded scientists cal length, photographs geotagged shop (part of the Adobe Creative and conservation professionals, my using GPS data include the exact Cloud subscription) and GIMP (the students and I keep our study site location (longitude and latitude) at best free alternative to Photoshop) information under our hats. which the image was captured. allow one to save or to discard EXIF Good thing. As I listened to other The implications of public access data by checking or unchecking a conference presenters reveal too to such information are chilling. Us- box. In addition, there are a num- much, I learned that there was, in ing the EXIF metadata from a digital ber of free EXIF tag “cleaners” and fact, a previously convicted turtle photograph, a tech-savvy wildlife “removers” available for download poacher attending the conference. poacher could potentially decimate from the Internet. My MO of secrecy was unfortunately a study site or a pristine habitat. The For more information on this im- justified. necessity of removing the GPS data portant issue, click on the links in You just never know what lengths about an ecologically sensitive site the next section. r unscrupulous people will go to, so and species from any publicly avail- References it’s best not to make things easy for able image is obvious. Hoffman, C. (2017). How to See Ex- them, especially when turtles already actly Where a Photo Was Taken (and There is a prevailing view that Keep Your Location Private). [online] face a host of other harder-to-control most “major” social media sites How-to Geek. Available at: https:// threats. remove the EXIF metadata before www.howtogeek.com/211427/ So, I could tell you where our how-to-see-exactly-where-a-photo- posting users’ images to protect was-taken-and-keep-your-location- research sites are located, but then, their privacy. However, given the private/ of course, I’d have to kill you. r lack of transparency with many Murphy, A. (2017). How to Scrub GPS Data of these sites, taking responsibility from Your Photos. [online] Motherboard. Copyright © 2017 by Prof. Jacqueline Litzgus. for removing the EXIF files prior to Available at: https://motherboard. Republished under the Creative Commons vice.com/en_us/article/59ygkd/ license CC BY-ND 4.0. submitting images for posting is a how-to-remove-gps-data-location- sensible precaution. information-from-photos 10 January/February 2018

Your Tortoise as a Winter Roommate text and photographs by Karen Berry Your tortoise was treated for a respi- when your tortoise needs to be easily, and could be a fire hazard. ratory infection early in the “season.” inside. One is going to be some There are ones specifically designed Your wallet just took a big hit for sur- patience, as having your tortoise as for use with heat emitters, have a gery to remove a bladder stone. For a roommate over the winter can be ceramic or porcelain base, and are a some reason, the old guy or girl just challenging, especially if more than little more expensive than the work didn’t eat or drink enough, and you one tortoise needs to be kept inside. lights. don’t think he or she is adequately You will need to make sure the Some companies indicate that the prepared for brumation. You just tortoise drinks enough water, or warranty for their heat emitters is adopted a tortoise from CTTC, or gets a soak once or twice a week to void if the bulb is not used with the obtained it from another source, and ensure it does not become dehy- same brand lamp hood. Most come don’t know its medical history. drated from the heat of the lamp, or with clamps, but make sure it’s a Or, it’s the middle of January, from the lowered humidity inside the secure clamp so that the lamp can- raining cats and dogs, and your tor- house. not fall and start a fire. The clamp, toise woke up from brumation and Your tortoise may already like be- however, places the lamp and the WON’T go back to sleep. Your non- ing in the house, having learned how heat emitter at an angle from the tor- brumating tortoise will be stuck in its to open the slider screen, figured out toise and may not heat it efficiently, house because of really bad weather, how to come through the dog door, as it spreads the heat at an outward with no place to exercise. You aren’t or otherwise follows you inside. You angle instead of downward. When packing up to head for Florida, so don’t want him, or her, to “get too purchasing a lamp hood, look for now what...??? used to it.” If the outdoor tempera- one that has a hanging loop in addi- There are going to be times like ture is over 70°F (21°C), your tortoise tion to a clamp. those mentioned above when your can usually go outside during the Use the ceramic heat emitters that tortoise may need to be kept awake day, unless the medical reason for don’t give off any light. They are over the winter, or the weather is being inside negates being in dirt, much less annoying to you, espe- such that being outdoors isn’t practi- rocks, on the grass, or California is cially at night, and seem to provide cal for your non-brumating species having a real winter, and we have greater warmth. They can be expen- of tortoise. Noah on speed dial to call and bor- sive, but get a good quality one, and This will also apply to box turtles row his Ark. If we could house break don’t skimp to save money. A 100 or other predominantly land dwell- them, they’d be the perfect pet, not Watt emitter should be sufficient for ers. If you have to keep a normally just the already wonderful ones they most tortoise warming needs. The outdoor pond turtle indoors for med- are. bulbs usually last quite a while, espe- ical reasons, you may need to utilize First you need a heat lamp. cially if only used for the occasional some of this equipment, and provide The lamp hood into which the indoor living situation. The heat a place for the turtle to be in water, if bulb goes needs to have a ceramic source should be approximately 18” that is OK for your situation. Watch base. The inexpensive work lights, above the tortoise to prevent burns that the electronics are not too close with the plastic base containing the overheating, and dehydration, but to the water, for obvious reasons. A switch, cannot handle the heat gen- should be checked regularly and the heater designed for in-water use is a erated by the ceramic bulb, burn out height adjusted as necessary. much better choice, and if you need one, select an appropriate UV light, as well. Tortoises and turtles cannot regu- late their body temperature, but rely on the sun or other external heat source to keep warm. In a sense, they are always “room temperature.” That is why tortoises live in burrows in the wild, where the temperature is stable, provides relief from the desert heat, and protection from the cold and wet weather during brumation. There are a few things you should “Brooder lamp” with ceramic base and clamp shown Zoo Med Laboratories lamp with ceramic base hanging from and clamped to a lamp stand. and clamp shown clamped to a tortoise table. keep on hand for the occasions Volume 54, Number 1 11

The last item is very helpful, not Next is a heat emitter. always necessary, but will often provide a more stable manner of heating your tortoise, and is needed for some of the UVA/UVB lights, which need to project down onto the tortoise/turtle. A lamp stand enables you to easily adjust the distance from the lamp to the tor- toise to prevent the overheating and dehydration mentioned above, plus the length of extension and swing of the arm. It keeps the lamp hanging 100W ceramic heat emitter over the box or wherever the tortoise Lamp hood with 60W heat emitter installed is being kept, and can prevent other The stand should be anchored by out the tortoise inside. pets, kids, or adults from accidentally the box or other receptacle in which Regardless of whether or not the knocking the heat lamp off where it’s the tortoise sleeps at night, or if used surface on which the box is sitting been clamped. in an open “heating station” loca- is “easy clean,” it’s a good idea to Lamp stand tion so the tortoise can sit under it put an older bath rug with a rubber in the exercise or other area, then backing (or a color you don’t use the base needs to be weighted with or like anymore), or something else something sufficiently heavy that Where is your tortoise going to sleep the tortoise can’t knock off the base while it is inside...... ? while positioning itself under the lamp. Or, the base should be turned backwards away from the lamp and put under the edge of a solid piece of furniture so it can’t be tipped over by the tortoise, other pets, or “clumsy” humans. The most convenient thing (for us) to use for a tortoise “bed” while it has to be inside is a sturdy cardboard box. Make sure there is plenty of room for the tortoise to turn around, and not feel like it’s “trapped.” If your tortoise has never been in a box, you can get one that has an open front, and the tortoise can eas- ily walk out when he or she feels the Reptile lamp stand sold by Zoo Med Labora- Easily acquired and disposable “bed” for a tories. need, or cut a flap into one of the tortoise fitted with accessories. sides that can be pushed back into The stands come in two sizes, the place at night. Just make sure the box under it. That will keep a cold floor larger one being taller and heavier, isn’t on something you don’t want from leaching warmth from the box, which is useful with tortoises. They ruined. and urine from escaping from the are often black metal, with a rectan- The one pictured comes from box, and soaking into what is hope- gular base, adjustable height, and an Costco, is super economical, mean- fully not your favorite area rug. adjustable swing arm with a hook for ing “free,” and easily replaced when Line the bottom of the box with hanging the lamp. It’s also helpful to needed. There are ventilation holes either a folded plastic garbage bag clamp the lamp onto the swing arm in a lot of the larger boxes, but that (which slides around a lot), or you for extra stability. This also allows is easily remedied with duct tape can use the dog “pee pads” that you to turn the lamp hood to the on both sides of each hole, except you can get at a pet store. They are angle you need without pulling it off the hand holes, which make it much plastic on the bottom and have a soft the arm in the process. easier to move the box, with or with- absorbent material for the top layer 12 January/February 2018 that soaks up the urine and keeps and wet from urination. Or, shop a ticles, and fold it up for next meal. your box nicer longer. Then place thrift store or outlet store for inex- Make sure the area where the a folded OLD bath towel on top of pensive bath towels or ones on sale, tortoise is staying can be brightly lit the “liner,” and you are ready to go. and have those on hand strictly for during the day; otherwise he or she Have a bath towel handy to place tortoise use. Get colors you would will be looking for a dark place to go over the box at night to keep it dark never use in your own bathrooms. to sleep. It’s hard for them to disobey for the tortoise to sleep, to keep out For rainy and really cold days, have Mother Nature, but a nice bright drafts, and, if you have cut a flap in somewhere that is “easy clean up” room during the day will help. the box, make sure the towel goes all for the tortoise to get some exercise While it can be a challenge to the way to the floor. and a location where you will feed keeping things orderly and anywhere If you need to heat the tortoise the tortoise. A “feeding station” is near normal while your shelled overnight as well as during the day as simple as a corner or other spot roommate motors around the area because of illness, swing the arm of where you put down a folded towel, you’ve set up, enjoy the tortoise’s the stand over to one corner, and large enough so the dish and the company at this time of year, take make sure the lamp is a few inches tortoise are not directly on the floor, heart in that it’s not an annual occur- above and not touching the towel. and voilá...ready to go. The towel will rence, and take him or her to have a For some reason, a lot of tortoises catch what the tortoise shoves off the picture taken with Santa. r seem to like something soft to sit plate or doesn’t eat, and you can fold Special thanks to Karen Berry of the CTTC Val- on. Have a supply of old towels on the entire thing up, take it outside to ley Chapter for making this care sheet available hand, as they are going to get soiled, shake off the remaining food par- for publication in the Tortuga Gazette.

Burmese Star Tortoise Makes Meteoric Comeback Yangon, Myanmar—11 October 2017 established three “assurance colonies” dry zone is now biologically attain- —The Burmese star tortoise (Geo- to hedge against the extinction of wild able. However, political and social chelone platynota), a medium-sized populations. The three colonies began challenges need to be resolved before tortoise found only in Myanmar’s cen- with an estimated 175 individuals, large-scale reintroduction takes place tral dry zone, has been brought back mostly confiscated from illegal wildlife to ensure the tortoises are not taken from the brink of extinction thanks to traffickers. by poachers. an aggressive captive-breeding effort The colonies were sited at facilities Said lead author Steven Platt, a spearheaded by a team of conserva- within existing wildlife sanctuaries. herpetologist with WCS’s Myanmar tionists and government partners. After the colonies were established, Program: “This is the modern day Efforts to restore the tortoise are conservationists had to determine equivalent of saving the bison from described in the latest issue of the the species’ husbandry requirements extinction. A team of conservationists peer-reviewed journal Herpetological including diet, feeding, reproduction, spearheaded an aggressive captive Review. and hatchling care. Herpetologists breeding effort, and have brought an The tortoises now number over from WCS’s Bronx Zoo helped design animal back from the brink to where 14,000 individuals, up from an the breeding centers as well as pro- it now has the potential to be reintro- estimated population of just a few vide husbandry expertise. In addition, duced into the wild in large numbers.” hundred animals in the early 2000s. veterinarians and molecular scientists Said Andrew Walde, Chief Operat- Burgeoning demand from wildlife from the Bronx Zoo conducted health ing Officer of Turtle Survival Alliance: markets in southern China beginning screenings of the captive population “The Myanmar WCS/TSA partnership in the mid-1990s virtually wiped out to determine what diseases might be is a model chelonian conservation the tortoise in a matter of years until present (no major diseases of concern success story. If you had told me more viable populations could no longer be were discovered). Bronx Zoo vets than 10 years ago when the project found, and the species was consid- continue to consult with WCS Myan- started that we would have more than ered ecologically extinct. mar vets on various health cases, con- 10,000 Burmese Star tortoises, and In 2004, The Nature and Wildlife firming diagnoses and recommending that we would have returned nearly a Conservation Division of the Myan- treatment options. thousand to the wild, I wouldn’t have mar Ministry of Natural Resources and Approximately 750 animals have believed it. It is success stories like Environmental Conservation in col- been released into wild areas of the this that make all the hard work worth laboration with the Wildlife Conser- sanctuaries, and the long term objec- it.” r vation Society (WCS)/Turtle Survival tive of restoring viable populations in —Wildlife Conservation Society press release Alliance (TSA) Myanmar Program every protected area in the central Volume 54, Number 1 13

Meetings and Programs Click on your Chapter’s website link for the latest program information. Programs may be scheduled after the newsletter is published. Happy Cen-Val 11 January; 8 February

Chino Valley 19 January; 16 February New Year Foothill to our Members and Partners 26 January; 23 February High Desert Families and Friends 8 January; 12 February Inland Empire 5 January; 2 February Kern County LSunrise in New Mexico 8 January; 12 February Low Desert 5 February Orange County Classified Advertisements 12 January; 9 February Classified advertisements run for one issue at $500 for up to four lines, or $3000 Ridgecrest for ¼ page. Ads are accepted at the discretion of the Editor. Ads are available to 8 January; 12 February members and subscribers only, and are run as a service to our members. Califor- nia Turtle & Tortoise Club is not responsible for merchandise placed for sale in Santa Barbara-Ventura the Tortuga Gazette. Contact the chapter for meeting Please make your check payable to the California Turtle & Tortoise Club. information. Please send ad fee to: CTTC Tortuga Gazette, attn Treasurer, P. O. Box 7300, Van Santa Clarita Nuys, CA 91409-7300. 20 January Mail fee with ad copy to the Tortuga Gazette mailing address; OR mail fee to the Silicon Valley postal address above, and email the ad copy to the Gazette Editor. 19 January; 16 February FOR SALE: Hatchlings to one-year-old red foot tortoises. Raised outside TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo) everyday and fed mostly natural diet. Call Linda at (626) 836-0399 or 10 January; 14 February email [email protected] (1) TTCS (Long Beach) 19 January: Tom Roach on FOR SALE: Redfoots, Russians, Marginateds, Hermann’s, Graecas, Raising Hatchlings; Elongateds, Forsteniis, Leopards, Reeves and Boxes—all breeding adults. 16 February: Ed LaRue on Reeves, Box and Russian hatchlings. Call 805-481-5222. (1) Desert Tortoises Valley 19 January; 16 February

Executive Board California Turtle & Tortoise Club: a Society The Tortuga Gazette (ISSN 1073-1334) is 13 January. Meetings take place Dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preserva- owned by the California Turtle & Tortoise Club at the Los Angeles County tion, Conservation and Education since 1964. Executive Board, which is incorporated in the Arboretum, Arcadia, CA. Promoting and Facilitating the Care and State of California as a Not-for-Profit Corpora- Adoption of Native and Nonnative Turtles tion and is tax-exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3). and Tortoises. All material is copyright © CTTC unless otherwise attributed. CTTC policy permits reproduction of articles by other not-for-profit Is your email address changing? groups and educational institutions when per- Update your email address through mission is requested. Permission is granted on a your MailChimp account by clicking case-by-case basis and CTTC must be cited as the “Update Your Preferences” link on the source of the material. your newsletter notice. Or send your Views expressed in the Tortuga Gazette are changes and corrections to those of the contributors and not necessar- [email protected] ily those of the Editor or the California Turtle & Tortoise Club. 14 January/February 2018

Rare and Endangered Turtles/Tortoises (From Turtle Conservancy) in the Basement of City Hall —City of Atascadero, CA press release Atascadero, California—12 Decem- trucks headed northbound on 101 to “turtle evac” emergency, Dr. Gib- ber 2017—Just who were the highly Atascadero, and the unusual guests bons reached out to Director Baker unusual and completely unexpected were made safely welcome at City for assistance. Working with City guests to arrive in Atascadero re- Hall. Manager Rachelle Rickard, the City cently? And, when an out of control The Conservancy was able to of Atascadero was able to provide a wildland fire threatens, where do evacuate the bulk of the animals temporary secure and safe haven for you go with hundreds of rare and from the sanctuary, including the the animals. endangered turtles and tortoises? most endangered species, but a few As soon as the imminent fire Well, Atascadero, of course! Where remained in ponds that they couldn’t danger near the Conservancy facility else would you take them but to get to in time. Several Conservancy had passed, the mandatory evacu- Atascadero’s Historic City Hall base- employees stayed with the turtles ation orders had been lifted and ment! against evacuation orders in hopes to the City’s very unusual guests were With wildland fires raging across protect them. able to return home, they were all Ventura and Los Angeles counties, Why Atascadero? The Charles loaded back onto trucks from their thousands of residents and visitors Paddock Zoo in Atascadero is well warm and secure temporary housing were evacuated. The largest of these known among fellow American here at Historic City Hall to make fires, the Thomas Fire, had burned Zoological Association (AZA) ac- the trek home again. City Manager over 200,000 acres,spanned over credited facilities as being committed Rachelle Rickard says that the City 200 square miles in Ventura County, to conservation and in aiding in the of Atascadero “was very proud to and at one point had surrounded long-term research and propagation be able to assist in the rescue efforts the community of Ojai. Most of the of turtle and tortoise species through and to provide a temporary home Ojai Valley was under a mandatory the zoo’s Turtle Lab, designed spe- for the turtles. We were happy that evacuation order. cifically for that purpose in the hopes these unusual guests were able to of helping save these call Atascadero “home”, even for a animals from extinction. short while.” The Turtle Conser- Visitors to the Charles Paddock vancy is dedicated to Zoo can enjoy the zoo’s collection protecting threatened of endangered turtles on exhibit turtles and tortoises and including Radiated Tortoises, Spider their habitats world- Tortoises and Big Headed Turtles. wide, and to promoting The zoo is extremely proud to be their appreciation by home to six rare Radiated Tortoises, people everywhere. The which are considered to be one of Conservancy preserves the world’s most beautiful tortoises critical ecosystems and and are endangered, mainly due to wild lands. Their conser- poaching and destruction of their vation breeding program habitat. includes 35 species of Over 200 animals call the Charles Galápagos tortoise. Public domain photograph. turtles and tortoises, 14 Paddock Zoo home. of which are on the “Top Here’s some video taken by CIty When the Thomas Fire threatened 40 Most Endangered” list, according staff of several of the Galapagos the Turtle Conservancy facility in to the International Union for Con- Tortoises being loaded up for their Ojai, hundreds of rare and endan- servation of Nature’s Tortoise and return trip from CIty Hall back to gered specimens from over 30 Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. their home in Ojai: species of tortoises and turtles had Turtle Conservancy Chief Op- https://youtu.be/_DjR68SIGtY to be quickly evacuated to avoid erating Officer, Dr. Paul Gibbons catastrophe, including ploughshare and Charles Paddock Zoo Director Click Turtle Conservancy to tortoises, baby snake-necked turtles, Alan Baker have a long professional learn more about the work of the radiated tortoises, golden coin turtles association through the AZA and conservation organization. and a nearly 400-pound Galapagos mutual interest in protecting and tortoise, which took five strong men preserving all species of turtles and Click Charles Patton Zoo to to load up. A caravan of fully loaded tortoises. When confronted with a learn more about the Zoo. Volume 54, Number 1 15

2018 California Turtle & Tortoise Club Directory Executive Board Kern County Chapter Silicon Valley Chapter General Information: President: Heather Ponek President: Gilbert Castro [email protected] Vice president/membership: Vice president: Lesa Montoya Chair: Abigail DeSesa Javier Gonzalez Secretary: Lisa Wong Vice-chair: Dave Zantiny Secretary: Gina Mattson Treasurer: Dorothy Castro Secretary: Richard Roosman Adoptions: Lawrence Rushing Meeting: Third Friday, 7:00 pm at San Treasurer: Robyn Kohr Meeting: Second Monday, 6:30 pm Jose Masonic Center, 2500 Masonic Meeting: quarterly (January, April, July at St. Philip of the Apostle Church, Drive, San Jose, CA. 95125 and October) at 11 am the Los Angles St. Ann’s Room (east side of church), County Arboretum, 301 No. Baldwin 7100 Stockdale Hwy (on the north TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo) Chapter Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007 side, between Ashe and Gosford), Ba- President: Brandon Froelicher kersfield, CA 93309 Vice president: Brian Kusko Cen-Val Chapter Secretary: Lisa Winn President/vice president: Robert Scott Low Desert Chapter Treasurer: Kimberly LaMar Treasurer: Diana Gatti General Information: Tony Vaninetti Adoptions: Bob Thomas Meeting: Second Thursday, 7:00 pm Secretary: Marlies Dietrich Meeting: Second Wednesday, 7:00 at Fresno Unified School District, Del Adoptions: Bill Powers pm at PG&E Community Center, 6588 Mar Elementary School, 4122 N. Del Meeting: First Monday of every even- Ontario Road, San Luis Obispo, CA Mar Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704 (no numbered month 7:00 pm at The 94505 meeting in July or August, as school is Living Desert Reserve, 47-900 Portola, closed) Palm Desert, CA 92260-6156 Turtle & Tortoise Care Society (Long Beach) Chapter Chino Valley Chapter Orange County Chapter President: Richard Roosman President: Jim Misiak General Information: Secretary/Membership: Vice president: David Bowman orangecounty@tortoise. org Anita De Leon Secretary/treasurer/adoptions: President: Traci Fields Treasurer: John Wong Lynda Misiak Secretary: Stephanie Roberts Meeting: Third Friday, 7:30 pm at Uni- Meeting: Third Friday, 7:30 pm at Treasurer/membership: Robin Robb versity Baptist Church, 3434 Chatwin, Chino Girl Scout House, 5007 Center Meeting: Second Friday, 7:30 pm at Long Beach, CA 90808-2613 Street, Chino, CA 91710 Grand Street Center (First Presbyterian Church), 146 N. Grand Street, Or- Valley Chapter Foothill Chapter ange, CA 92866 President: Bob Hazard President: Robin Robb Treasurer: Karen Berry Vice president: Joanna Bolt Ridgecrest Chapter Adoptions: Valley Adoption Team Secretary: Mardy Graves President: Robert Parker Meeting: Third Friday, 7:30 pm at Treasurer/membership: Jeanette Lea Vice president: Sue Parker Woodland Hills Christian Church, Adoptions: Linda Crawford Adoptions: Montynne Yates 5920 Shoup Ave., Woodland Hills Meeting: Fourth Friday, 7:30 pm at Los Meeting: Second Monday, 7:30 pm 91367-3327 Angeles County Arboretum, 301 No. at Maturango Museum,100 East Las Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007 Flores Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555 NOTE: The postal mailing ad- High Desert Chapter Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter dresses for each Chapter are President/adoptions: Dave Zantiny President: Don Williams listed on the last page of this Secretary/adoptions: Mary Dutro Adoptions: Wes Shipway newsletter. Meeting: Second Monday, 7:00 pm at Meeting: Contact the Chapter for Sterling Inn Regency Room, 17738 meeting information. Francesca Road, Victorville, CA 92395 Santa Clarita Chapter President: George Ordway Inland Empire Chapter Secretary: Jennifer Fields President: Monica Dirac Treasurer/membership/adoptions: Vice president: Richard Roosman Abigail DeSesa Secretary: Vendy Martin Meeting: Third Saturday of odd-num- Treasurer: Robyn Kohr bered months at 6:30 pm at Valencia Meeting: First Friday, 7:30 pm at “The United Methodist Church, 25718 Ark” Church of the Nazarenes in the McBean Pkwy, Valencia, California Fellowship Hall in Young Hall, 1307 91355 East Citrus Avenue, Redlands, CA 92374 16 January/February 2018

TIRN Statement on Recommendation to Allow Commercial Fishing in America’s Marine National Monuments

5 December 2017—In response to The monuments at risk are critical- Commercial fishing practices are Secretary of Interior Zinke’s recom- ly important habitat for a wide array extremely detrimental to marine mendations to President Trump to of marine species. habitat and marine species. These allow commercial fishing in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine marine national monuments were Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, National Monument (55.6 million created and expanded to prohibit Rose Atoll and Pacific Remote Islands acres): Some corals at the monument commercial fisheries, thus providing Marine National Monuments, Turtle are up to 5,000 years old. Home to important protected areas for en- Island Restoration Network, a leading sea turtles, dolphins, whales, pearl dangered migratory species like the ocean conservation organization, oysters, giant clams, coconut crabs, Pacific leatherback sea turtle. condemns this reversal of public large groupers, sharks, humphead For the Pacific leatherback sea lands protections. wrasses, and bumphead parrotfishes. turtle, populations continue to de- “Allowing commercial fishing cline due to death and injury when back into protected marine areas Northeast Canyons and Seamounts they get captured in commercial is advancing the clock on extinc- Marine National Monument (3.1 fishing gear, such as longlines and tion,” said Peter Fugazzotto, Strategic million acres): The canyons and sea- drift gillnets. Programs Director. “Our marine mounts provide habitat for protected The inevitable result of these national monuments – 65 million species such as endangered sperm, rollbacks will be a return to coral reef acres – are already under constant fin, and sei whales and Kemp’s ridley destruction, overfishing and lethal threat by plastic trash, nonnative turtles. bycatch of threatened and endan- species, and the effects of climate Rose Atoll Marine National Monu- gered species that occurred prior change. If Trump implements these ment (8.6 million acres): Important to each marine national monument recommendations, we may rocket nesting sites for the threatened green designation. forward on the path to lose the sea and endangered hawksbill turtles in —Turtle Island Restoration Network turtles, the whales, and the diversity American Samoa. press release of the oceans which sustains all life on Earth.”

The California Turtle & Tortoise Club (CTTC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corpora- Cen-Val Chapter: P.O. Box 16418, Ridgecrest Chapter: P. O. Box 1272, tion. Contributions are tax deductible to Fresno, CA 93755-6418 Ridgecrest, CA 9355 the full extent of the law. Please pay by Chino Valley Chapter: P. O. Box 1753, Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter: P.O. USA funds only (US bank check, money Chino, CA 91708-1753 Box 3086, Camarillo, CA 93011-3086 order, or International Postal Order). Foothill Chapter: P. O. Box 51002, Santa Clarita Chapter: P.O. Box 4012, Membership in the CTTC and sub- scriptions to the Tortuga Gazette are Pasadena, CA 91115-1002 Castaic, CA 91310 handled through the CTTC Chapters. High Desert Chapter: P. O. Box 163, Silicon Valley Chapter: P.O. Box The Chapters also manage membership Victorville, CA 92393 64135, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-4135. renewals. Inland Empire Chapter: P.O. Box 2371, TOOSLO Chapter: P.O. Box 14222, Many members choose to join a San Bernardino, CA 92406-2371 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 nearby Chapter to participate in Chap- ter meetings and other activities. Print Kern County Chapter: P.O. Box 81772, Turtle & Tortoise Care Society Chap- membership forms from the CTTC Bakersfield, CA 93380-1772 ter: P.O. Box 15965, Long Beach, CA website. Low Desert Chapter: P.O. Box 4156, 90815-0965 Your Chapter and your renewal date Palm Desert, CA 92261 Valley Chapter: P.O. Box 7364, Van (month/year) are displayed on your Nuys, CA 91409-7364 newsletter notification. Mail your new Orange County Chapter: P.O. Box or renewal membership/subscription to 11124, Santa Ana, CA 9271 the Chapter of your choice.

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