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Wood Turtles

Jerry Edmundson/Flickr: Creative Commons

  Although the numbers fluctuate, our listening area has about 21 federally endangered and 6 federally threatened animal species. Each state also has its own endangered species lists, and in Maryland there are 91 endangered and 19 threatened animals. Conservationists often push for vulnerable animals and plants to be added to these lists because of the critical protection they provide—but it’s never a good sign to see a species reach this point. 

One of our great local animals, the wood turtle, is a short step away from being on Maryland’s list. Currently, this reptile is listed as only ‘vulnerable,’ meaning that it is in danger of being endangered.

W. Brooks Paternotte took the helm of Irvine Nature Center as executive director in July 2013 and immediately began building on the strong 35-year foundation. Brooks is a Baltimore native who was a teacher, coach, advisor, dean and Head of the Middle School during his 13 years at Boys’ Latin School in Baltimore. He is also an instructor and ambassador of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and is a Leave No Trace Master, as well as an avid outdoorsman and a features writer for FlyLife Magazine.
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