Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't understand how someone couldn't see this in the road. I came home and found this poor Eastern directly across from my driveway a couple of months ago. She had been trying to cross the road and someone appearantly driving while blind, drove right over her...She was alive and trying to crawl when I found her. I put her out of her misery with my car. Thanks, Leo

Skin & Scales

poor girl, I hope she was able to successfully pass on her genes atleast for a few years, around here we usually see gravid snappers that have been hit by 18 wheelers on the sides of the road, by the time I find them the eggs are usually smashed or eatten.

Sad picture...

I have just returned from a trip from Florida.

It is an annual trip I make each year. This year I was able to head-start 26
T.c.bauri released to a private Florida reserve; in a shared project with the University of South Florida. I'm nearing the culmination of a 6 year project.

At the same time; in order to protect the species from extinction other T.c. bauri were head-started and sent to private centers in Texas and Hawaii.... All with proper permits.

I have read many posts on Hawaii being very difficult to accept non native species; but with a little paper work and running around; the process is not difficult with approved species. They do accept all Terrapene carolina ....... .

This tragic picture may have been a careless driver; however every year I have witnessed drivers in Florida intentionally swerving to hit road crossing boxies and sometimes at the last minute swerving to run over boxies on the shoulder of the road. If memory servers me correct over 50 intentional kills that I have witnessed.
There are also many caring people in Florida like yourselves that save what they can.

While there are animal abuse laws; no citations are on record for intentional road killing of natural Florida wildlife. ( Hard to prove kind of thing....involving money and manpower)

Although I will never be able to comprehend these mindless acts; my hope is that the Florida subspecies will survive in private reserves where they are truly protected, appreciated and cherished.... as we should all reptiles and wildlife alike.

Due to other commitments; I will be greatly reducing my Terrapene projects, and much of my time here.. The picture posted above has just accounted for many visuals that prompted my soapbox reply.

Ric K.