Think Out Loud

The western pond turtle is a native turtle listed as endangered in Washington and threatened in Oregon. on Tuesday, the Turtle Haven Invasive Species Control and Restoration Project released western pond turtles back into the wild after a long, ongoing collaboration to rehabilitate them. Although the turtles have survived for millions of years, challenges such as shell disease and habitat loss are threatening them to near extinction. Sara Woods, land trust stewardship coordinator for Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and Katie Haman, wildlife veterinarian for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, explain why populations have declined so significantly and how Turtle Haven came to be as a designated habitat for western pond turtles.