The summer of 2008 has been an exciting time for the Adopt-A-Pond staff and the turtles involved in our tracking project. After a great beginning to the program this spring and a busy summer of turtle tracking in the Rouge, the program is officially winding down. This summer, in addition to our regular turtle tracking routine, Adopt-A-Pond staff was lucky enough to take part in a turtle nest site characterization study where we observed a variety of turtles nesting in the Rouge, including study turtles Clementine, Abetzi and Xyna! Nearing the end of the summer the decision to officially begin retiring a number of our Blanding’s turtles as well as all of the Snapping turtles was made. Here is an update of the all the turtles in the project:

Here is an update on the five Blanding's turtles in the study:

• Colin, Brooke and Irene

Colin, Brooke and Irene are now the only turtles left in our study and we will continue to track them for the remainder of the summer, over the winter and again next spring! All three recently have had their transmitters changed and are out cruising around the Rouge. As it gets cooler over the next couple of months, they will begin to move to their overwintering sites where they will remain until the beginning of next spring.

• Clementine and Lucky

After a summer of following Clementine and Lucky around the Rouge, both their transmitters were removed at the end of August and we are happy to say that both have been officially retired from the study. Everyone at the Toronto Zoo will miss you guys a lot! Have a safe and happy life!

Here is an update on the Snapping turtles in the study:

• Coco, Tinkerbell, Abetzi, Peter Pan, Winnie, MJ, Wanda and Xena

After many years in our study, all of the Snapping turtles have now been retired. As of August 2008, all of the Snappers have had their transmitters removed and been sent on their way.  All of the Snappers in our study have taught us a lot about turtle behaviour, their movements, as well as what makes good nesting and over wintering habitat. We hope that all of Snapping turtles we have grown so fond of over the course of the tracking program live long and happy lives. We will miss you all deeply!