FRIENDS OF THE LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog

After weekend trouble, all is well at Turtle Crossing

6/18/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
It is this time of the year. The snappers and painted turtles of Lake Mendota are on their annual pilgrimage from the shallows of the University Bay marsh across the bike path and University Bay Drive to the edges of the Class of 1918 marsh and the gentle slopes of the new retention basin. It's time for the turtles to lay their eggs in the drier slopes of these areas, more protected from natural predators. 

This journey is always precarious, and turtles get hurt and even smashed by cars. This year, the crossing was even more dangerous because the new metal turtle crossing signs, while attractive, weren't visible enough to drivers and because the new retention basin by Parking Lot 60 is surrounded by a chain link fence that was so close to the ground that turtles simply couldn't squeeze under it to reach the desirable more sandy slopes.

The first SOS call was raised by Mickey Schaefer, a UW alumni and teacher for 36 years, who bikes along Lakeshore Path almost every day and loves the wildlife there. On Friday afternoon she helped care for a turtle run over by a car; she got animal rescue involved, and she called me at home that the usual large sandwich board sign with the SLOW -  Turtle Crossing was missing. By that time on Friday, the university was winding down for the weekend. But Gary Brown, Preserve Director, whom I contacted, got personally involved and confirmed that the current metal signs were too small to be seen.

 On Sunday Mickey biked again along Lakeshore Path and emailed me a truly miserable story: 

"We saw 4 turtles--2 snapping, 2 smaller ones--all had walked into the Chain link fence that is bordering the bike path. They are attempting to get on the other side of the fence:(  The poor large snapping turtle, started putting his head thru the chain links in attempt to get over to other side--which appears to be like a pond." 

Picture
Chain link fence raised by one foot to make way for turtles
Picture
Extent of the raised chain link fence along the retention basin. A lot of work!
Picture
Sandwich board turtle crossing sign at entrance to Picnic Point All photos and map by Gisela Kutzbach
The turtle got stuck. Other people put themselves into danger of being bitten by the snapping turtle when they tried to help.  

Mickey wrote me later that day: "Co-existing with our wonderful wildlife is important and I so hope that something can and will be done to help this situation. ..... I want to believe that everyone who is a part of this, will do what it takes to help these poor animals whose lives and habitat have been altered. "

Gary Brown, representing the UW, received the report still on Sunday, with the request if something can be done to adjust the fence so that the turtles can complete their crossing successfully. The very next morning on Monday, we were out again to inspect the situation. 

Thanks to Gary Brown's swift action - he must have pushed a magic button - there was the fence crew, lifting up the long, long chain link fence  one foot above the ground, all the way, as shown on the map. The crew told us they also rescued three turtles who got stuck over night. They have stories to tell. 

Gary Brown wasn't done yet. He also initiated something about the signage. Today, at each end of the crossing, drivers on University Bay Drive cannot help but noticing the very large sandwich board sign with its handsome turtle. Most everyone loves the turtles and welcomes the alert. 
This weekend story is a great example of effective community involvement and responsive university management.  Mickey Schaefer wrote: 
"Wow, this is good news! Thank you! Gosh, ....Honestly, there are really good people in this world and you just tend to forget that if you watch the daily news." 
There you have it. Mickey Schaefer and Gary Brown made a real difference. Thank you! All is well again in turtle land. 
PS. Never touch a snapping turtle. They have an incredibly long neck, very strong jaws, and snap in all directions.
2 Comments
Gisela
10/8/2014 09:02:12 am

On October 8, 2014, Aparna Vidyasagar published a follow up on the turtle story in the Madison Commons. Please check out http://madisoncommons.org/?q=content/why-did-the-turtle-cross-university-bay-drive

Reply
Elliott link
1/12/2021 01:42:43 pm

Good readding

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Gisela Kutzbach and contributors

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
 P.O. Box 5534
 Madison, WI 53705 

UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website

Documents
Picture
Related websites:
UW Nelson Institute
UW Arboretum
Clean Lakes Alliance
Groundswell Conservancy
Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
​
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog