MUSCATINE JOURNAL (Iowa) 28 July 06 Turtle troubles (Melissa Regennitter)
Muscatine, Iowa: Among the many events held at the Great River Days Reunion during the past two years, none seems to have stirred as much public controversy as the turtle races.
It’s no different this year for the popular children’s event. The issue revolves around the Jaycees’ efforts to get an adequate supply of suitable turtles.
A letter to the editor from owner Tony Morse of Tony’s Tropical Pets published on July 22 accused the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Jaycees of not supporting local businesses. Morse also wrote that the Jaycees caused problems for the pet store with its supplier this year by asking for turtles and then canceling.
In letters to the editor published July 25, Jaycees president Joanne Schwab and event organizer Lori Colon disputed the accusation, stating that they could not find a suitable turtle distributor. They wrote that they asked the Quarterback Club — which oversees Great River Days Reunion — for assistance. They also wrote that the Quarterback Club then dealt with Morse without Jaycees’ knowledge.
The Jaycees said they continued their turtle search and, after finding a supplier in Iowa City, told the Quarterback Club.
The Jaycees also claimed that, two years ago, Tony’s Tropical Pets had supplied turtles that were of poor quality.
Tony’s denies that, saying he rescued the event just in time by finding 150 turtles for the Jaycees.
How it all began
The issue first arose in 2004. Finding enough turtles became a problem because Great River Days Reunion was moved ahead three weeks, from mid-August to late July. That made it difficult to find enough mature turtles that could be safely shipped. The races almost didn’t happen that year.
Organizers then planned to use smaller turtles as a replacement only to discover that U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations prohibit the sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches across the shell.
Just before Great River Days, the Quarterback Club contracted with Tony’s Tropical Pets, which located 150 turtles on short notice.
Last year, finding turtles again proved difficult for the Jaycees, but an out-of-town supplier, Earl May of Iowa City, was eventually located.
Turtle race process
The Jaycees have been long-time event coordinators for the turtle races but couldn’t confirm the exact number of years. They are a nonprofit volunteer committee dedicated to community service.
Each of the 80 turtles supplied for this year’s race was purchased for $8.99 from Earl May. The turtles then were sold for $25 each for the race.
Local businesses had the opportunity to sponsor turtles and parents were able to purchase a turtle for their children – but turtles had to be pre-ordered.
According to Colon, any profits from the turtle race go to community projects such as Halloween haunted houses and needy families that are sponsored at Christmas time.
The Jaycees say children and adults look forward to the turtle races every year. The members think it’s a fun event to have because it allows kids to be creative.
The children can decorate the turtles with non-toxic paint and glue for attaching props. Some of the themes and ideas have included Harry Potter, a cowboy and a Realtor turtle with a big paper house on its shell.
“It’s a family thing,” said Troy Delano, chairman of the Jaycees Board. “Parents can enjoy the time with their kids doing something out of the ordinary.”
What now?
Jaycees Board members declined to comment further about the letters to the editor, but said they hope the issue is now resolved. When asked if they would consider using Tony’s Tropical Pets as a supplier for turtles in the future, they also declined to comment.
Allene Morse, Tony’s wife, was critical of the Jaycees’ letters to the editor. Morse said that she doesn’t understand where the members are coming up with their story.
“I don’t know if it’s a matter that they don’t want to take responsibility or what,” she said.
Another letter from Tony Morse is scheduled to be published in Saturday’s Opinion page.
Allene Morse said during an interview Thursday that they would consider supplying the turtles in the future if coordinators pre-pay for the order.
According to Kerry Keller of the Quarterback Club, the Jaycees are responsible for the turtle races and the Quarterback Club has tried to help out in the past to keep the event going. The Quarterback Club has declined further comment on the issue.
The Chamber of Commerce released this statement without further comment:
“The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry promotes community events sponsored by many of our nonprofit partners, including the Muscatine Jaycees and Muscatine Quarterback Club. These two organizations work very hard to provide activities for the youth of the area with the annual turtle races held during Great River Days.”
Fate of the turtles
Families who receive turtles for the race can keep them as pets or release them into area ponds. They also are given pamphlets that describe how to prepare a turtle for the race and provide proper care and procedures for keeping or releasing the turtle.
Dave Bakke, Muscatine County Conservation Board naturalist, told the Journal that “as a general rule, it’s not a good idea to release captive turtles into the wild.”
Bakke said that the impact of releasing a few turtles once a year into the area might have little impact on the environment.
However, captive turtles sometimes may carry illnesses that do not make them sick but could be spread to other animals in the wild.
Also, because captive turtles are often raised in ponds on turtle farms and fed with commercial pet food, they are not familiar with living as wild animals. This may mean that the turtles lack the necessary feeding and other skills required to survive.
Though Bakke suspects that most of these turtles are released, he said keeping them as a pet can be a good thing if they are taken care of properly.
“People still need to remember that turtles are a tough pet,” Bakke said. “It’s long-term. They can live 25-30 years.”
Turtle troubles