RTPI and SUNY JCC studying Spiny Softshell Turtles
This fall we have two interns from SUNY Jamestown Community College working with us on the study and research of the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) population present in the Chadakoin River, located mere moments from our campus in Jamestown, New York. The state-listed turtle is listed as “special concern” and we are thankful to have this nearby area where we have found them successfully nesting. The Chadakoin River has a history of being surrounded by development and industry, making contamination of various sorts and water quality major concerns. However, the...
Read MoreChadakoin River in downtown Jamestown, New York
This is the Chadakoin River in downtown Jamestown, New York. On one hand it is a waterway that has been surrounded by industry and development for decades. On the other hand it is a vital environmental hotspot, hosting species like the Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera), state-listed as a species of “special concern”. This is a very literal example of this dichotomy. With all of that said there are many reasons to be optimistic about the Chadakoin and other natural resources in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region! Later today I will post a blog entry about RTPI’s...
Read MoreEastern Spiny Softshell Turtle diving
RTPI staff and SUNY interns have been watching our submarine-like friends in the Chadakoin River all weekend, too.
Read MoreSpiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
Beautiful day for a swim whether you’re a Spiny Softshell Turtle or a soft, spiny and shell-less person.
Read MoreEastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
Waters are high in Western New York after all the recent rain making Spiny Softshell Turtles harder to find. That was not a problem for Twan today as you can see here. He even noted a few test nesting holes he attributed to work done during the heat last week.
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