Did you know eastern box #turtles are the current "hot item" being intercepted by U.S. customs? Smugglers for Asian markets are tireless in efforts to decimate North American turtle populations for "medicine". Added to the domestic threats to this species and we have a real problem. #conservation

Diamondback terrapins are a fascinating species with a rough history. Once over-trapped for meat, the only brackish-dwelling North American turtle is now under threat for more modern reasons: habitat loss, poaching, roadkill, and drowning in crab-pots. #DBT #wildlifebiology #turtles #conservation

They look like sliders and cooters, but chicken turtles are different altogether. This species specializes in disjunct seasonal ponds, and can spend MOST of the year out of water. Their thin shells allow them to travel on land more easily, but makes them vulnerable to predation. #turtles #wildlife

Here for #Pseudemys Saturday, is the northern red-bellied cooter. These huge basking turtles have highly variable coloration across most of their range, but our southern NJ redbellies have a striking appearance: a jet-black carapace and a flaming-red plastron. #turtles #wildlife #fieldwork #biology

This little fella is an eastern mud turtle. They aren't the sexiest turtle, but have a fascinating life history that hasn't been fully fleshed-out. They can be found in a wide swath of shallow coastal plain habitats; vernal pools, swamps, ditches, brackish marshes and more. #turtles #wildlifebiology

Hey everyone! My name is Bob Hamilton. I'm a conservation biologist, or wildlife ecologist or something. Here to collaborate with other conservationists (generally) and turtle biologists (specifically). #turtles #conservation #fieldwork #conservation #ecology #wildlifebiology