(Radio Iowa) – There’s big excitement over tiny turtles in central Iowa. A new program pairs the Iowa D-N-R, Iowa State University and Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo to raise what are known as Blanding’s turtles, a species native to Iowa that’s classified as globally endangered.
Trained I-S-U students who find pregnant turtles bring them to the zoo, where they lay their eggs. The eggs from four turtles were recently incubated, producing 57 baby turtles. They’re being cared for at the zoo with release planned next spring in the same spots where their mothers were discovered.
Zoo officials say releasing 57 turtles from four mothers is a big deal, as adults in the wild typically will only be able to raise one or two hatchlings to adulthood.