Hudson students give baby turtles a head start (Blanding’s Turtles) – via Herp Digest

By Jeff Malachowski/Daily News staff, The MetroWest Daily News

HUDSON 1/5/13 — Instead of dodging chipmunks, herons and other predators in the wild, four young Blanding’s turtles safely wade in the shallow waters of two tanks at JFK Middle School.

In recent years, Blanding’s turtles have become a threatened species in Massachusetts because of the continued loss of their habitat, which are sandy marshes, and various predators in the wild. Blanding’s turtles - like many types of turtles - also are killed crossing busy roads.

"There are very few making it across," said science teacher Brian Blake.

Seventh-grade students in Blake and Beth Joki’s science classes are doing their part to protect the Blanding’s turtle population, with the students raising and caring for four Blanding’s turtles throughout the year. The turtles will be released into the Assabet Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the spring as part of a conservation project organized by local biologists.

Blanding’s turtles' survival rate the first year they are released is 85 percent, said Joki.

"We’re trying to build the Blanding’s population," said Joki.

All four yellow-spotted turtles, two named Squirt, one named Tyrone and another called Crush, need to grow before they can be released. They will be equipped with a tracking chip to allow biologists to monitor their movements once they're freed.

Joki and Blake received a $2,000 grant in June from the NEA Foundation to participate in the conservation project.

"Students will learn they, too, can make an impact on their environment in positive ways," said Joki.

Since receiving the four hatchlings in October, students have fed the turtles twice a day, cleaned their tanks each week and measured and weighed the reptiles. The turtles, which weigh about 10 grams and can fit on the tips of a few fingers, will grow to about 6 inches and weigh 80 grams when they are released.

"We’re helping them grow," said Jaylene Hurley, a seventh-grader. "I love having a class pet."

The turtles are not just class pets, as students have taken on the responsibility of caring for them and volunteered to take them home and care for them during school vacations.

"Watching them grow is my favorite part," Maia Klingenberger said as she scrubbed a tank with James Brooks, Keith Gagne and Ryan Hatfield. "They’re really cute."

Brooks’ favorite part about having the turtles is learning about their habitat and weighing and measuring them.

Allowing the students to take a hands-on approach to caring for the turtles and helping the animals grow helps bring the issue of the steadily declining Blanding’s turtle population to the forefront for students.

"It really brings it to life," said Blake.