| Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?
 Look! What’s that crossing the road … VERY slowly? This time of year we see lots of turtles. They are waking up from their winter beds in the mud and moving out into the world again.
Turtles have been around longer than dinosaurs, and there are many different kinds. They are the only reptiles with a shell. This is great protection from anything that might want to hurt them. They may be slow on land, but put them in water and watch them take off.
The familiar box turtle can pull its head and legs inside its shell and close up tight. It is the only turtle that can do this.
Even with this protection, there are fewer box turtles around these days. To learn why, researchers at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary use radio signals to follow box turtles and see how far they travel and where they like to sleep, eat and drink. The turtle has a transmitter on its back, which gives off signal beeps. The person listening follows the beeps until they are very strong. The loud beeps lead them right to the turtle. Such studies help us learn more about the lives of these turtles so we can help them survive.
You can do you part, too! Help turtles by admiring them from a distance, and let them go on their way. Happy, healthy turtles will thank you.
Want to look for turtles? Call Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary at 410/741-9330.
Turtle Trivia
What’s a baby turtle called?
Where do turtles lay their eggs?
What do turtles eat?
Word Search
Start your search for turtles here!
 Below are names of turtles that live in our area. Can you find them in the word search? Look forward, backward, up and down.
- red bellied
- eastern painted
- mud
- spotted
- diamondback
- snapping
- box
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Q A L J O E C M W I
E S R I M G E T D A
A T R E M U D O I M
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T N E H P A M A O D
S P O T T E D N N B
E A U Y O U B E D A
L I B F K S U M B C
S N A P P I N G A R
T T J I G O W X C I
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Terrific Turtle Tips
Charlie Muise at Jug Bay offers these tips when you meet a turtle.
1. We’ve all heard about a snapping turtle’s bite, but the truth is all turtles bite, and it hurts! Charlie has been bitten by a bald eagle, a six-foot black snake and a turtle. He says the turtle bite was definitely the worst.
2. If you see a turtle crossing the road, it knows where it’s going and wants to get there. If it’s safe, move the turtle to the side of the road in the direction it’s heading. Turtles are stubborn; if you put it back from where it came, it will just head back the same way.
3. Turtles live to be 80 to 100 years old and spend their whole lives in an area no larger than an acre. They know their turf. They have favorite mushroom patches and digging holes and don’t want to leave. So if you find a turtle, don’t bring it home with you because it is home.
Answers
a chicken
on land
pretty much anything!
Kids' Calendar
C’est Madeline!
Fri. April 28 (10am)-Meet Madeline in person during storytime, when you’ll hear all about her adventures in Paris. Barnes & Noble, Annapolis Harbour Center. rsvp: 410/573-2084.
Kinder Park Kite Fly
Sat. April 29 (10am)-Loft your favorite home-made or store-bought kite into the air at Kinder Farm Park’s kite contest. Win ribbons for the highest, fanciest and most acrobatic kites; everybody gets a ribbon for coming. Limit 1 kite per person. Ages 14 & under. Kinder Farm Park, Millersville. $2: 410/222-6115.
Explore a Forest
Sun. April 30 (1pm)-Walk w/Ranger Brian to learn about life in the forest. Ages 7-11. Kinder Farm Park, Millersville. rsvp: 410/222-6115.
Be a Poet and Know it
Sun. April 30 (3-4:30pm)- Drop in on the Poetry Workshop to learn rhyming and fun word games. Get warmed up to write your own poems. Barnes & Noble, Annapolis Harbour Center. rsvp: 410/573-2084.
Be a Volunteen
Deadline May 1-Anne Arundel County Public Library wants a few students ages 12-14 as Volunteens for its Summer Reading Program. You’ll help with crafts, book restocking, special events and more. All branches need help: 410/222-7371.
Make Winning Art
Pick up forms by May 1-Create art for the 7th Annual Children’s Art Contest. All entries will go on display during Children’s Day on the Farm at Jefferson Patterson Park (June 4). Winners get prizes and their art into
Annmarie Gardens’ gallery during Artsfest in September. Sponsored by Calvert Artists’ Guild. Calvert’s libraries have entry forms: 410/535-0291.
Copyright 2000
Bay Weekly
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