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Sniffing out Turtles
Since 2019, Finders Ernie, Betty White, Skye and Summit, have been using their noses to locate various species of turtles throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. Our teams provide surveys to monitor known populations of turtles and also provide presence/absence surveys in areas where turtles are suspected to be living.
Program Impact
Since 2019, our Finder-Keeper Teams have:
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Supported turtle conservation efforts across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa.
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Have partnered with multiple agencies for surveys, including the Wisconsin and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, and Polk County Conservation.
Turtle species we're trained on:
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Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii
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Wood Turtle, Glyptemys insculpta
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Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata
Our Finder-Keeper teams are currently available for surveys in Wisconsin and northern portions of Illinois.
Non-Invasive Surveys
Finder Betty White during a turtle training session
We take our oath to "leave no trace" during surveys very seriously. As such, our Finders are trained to locate turtles with their keen sense of smell. When they find a turtle, they will stop moving and either look at the turtle or look back to their Keeper (handler) to indicate presence. We do not teach or condone the physical manipulation or translocation of turtles by our Finders.
Shell Seeking Sniffers
Finder Skye during a turtle training session.
Photo by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Scent detection dogs have emerged as a powerful conservation tool for turtle conservation. These specially trained canines can locate turtles with remarkable efficiency by detecting their unique scent signatures, even when the animals are well-hidden or underground.
Why Turtles Matter
Turtles play vital ecological roles as seed dispersers, habitat engineers, and indicators of ecosystem health. Many turtle species are now threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and illegal wildlife trafficking, making conservation efforts increasingly important.
Support the Finders!
If you're excited about the work our Finders are doing, please consider supporting their work by becoming a Patreon family member. Thank you for helping us make a SNIFFerence!
Program Partners
We are grateful for our incredible collaborators and partners who are helping us to make a snifference.
Interested in partnering with us for turtle surveys? Contact us today!
Video and Images: Katie Homan, Conservation Dogs Collective, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County