The Adopt-A-Turtle program returns for another year! Based on the success of last year’s program, we again had a phenomenal year of student-engaged research projects along with considerable community involvement and outreach. Washburn Turtle Team members published several peer-reviewed research articles in 2024, presented at numerous conferences and were invited to talk at many community organizations. The goal of this program is to research the ornate box turtle (the Kansas state reptile) and to help educate people on why they are an integral species to the ecology and culture of Kansas.
Donations to the Adopt-A-Turtle program will primarily help pay for radio transmitters ($195 apiece) to enable us to continually track individual turtles over their lifetime. Transmitters need to be replaced each year and some of our turtles have been in our study since 2006. Donations to the program will also be used to purchase radio telemetry equipment (such as radio receivers and Yagi antennas needed to locate the transmitter) and student housing at a remote field station in western Nebraska. Last year, 10 students lived at this field station for nine weeks over the summer, and we are hoping to provide this opportunity again for students seeking fully immersive research experiences in 2025. In Kansas in 2024, we had over 15 students working on various research projects throughout the year, including those focused on the reproductive ecology of box turtles, the development of personality traits, thermal ecology, visual acuity, microhabitat use and preference, sociality vs co-occupancy of habitat areas, the impacts of trauma on behavior and ranging and so much more! Donors to the Adopt-A-Turtle program receive a triannual newsletter highlighting student and research achievements during the turtles’ active season. Donors of at least $100 will also receive an official certificate of adoption for a unique ornate box turtle that is being researched by students and Associate Prof. Benjamin Reed. Updates on your adopted turtle can also be provided upon request. Aside from using the equipment for students enrolled in biology classes and for research, the equipment and turtles with radio transmitters are also used for outreach events to help increase public awareness for the ecological importance of these magnificent but declining populations of turtles. This also provides kids and adults alike the opportunity to learn and engage in citizen science events such as doing radio telemetry to locate animals. Reed and his students present at schools, zoos, after-school clubs and summer camps.
The overall goal of his box turtle program at Washburn University is to create opportunities for more hands-on and engaging classroom and research experiences for students while also building public awareness and appreciation for box turtles, which should ultimately help protect them for future generations to enjoy and continue to learn from.
