One of the most exciting features of the Thornton Burgess Society’s animal exhibit is our collection of Northern Red Bellied Cooters.  These turtles, which only live in the ponds and lakes of Plymouth County, have been listed as an endangered species for decades.  The Burgess Society is a participant in Head Start, a program of  MASS WILDLFE, the National Heritage Division, designed to facilitate faster growth of the turtles, allowing them a better chance of survival once released back into the wild.   

            Each year, the Society receives six red bellies, which are approximately the size of a quarter upon their arrival.  It is the goal of Head Start to speed up the turtles’ growth process so that they become the size of a four-year-old turtle in the span of only nine months.  A larger size will help protect the young turtles from predators such as bullfrogs, raccoons, herons and fish once they are released at the end of their stay at the Burgess Society.  

            Under the management of Lead Naturalist Phil Kyle, the turtles are fed what is essentially an all-you-can-eat buffet of fresh romaine and red-leaf lettuce. As the turtles begin to rapidly increase in size, more and more lettuce is consumed.  One can expect to supply about two heads of lettuce a day to a half-dozen group of  200-gram turtles.  Reptomin pellets are also introduced into the turtles’ diet approximately two weeks after the initial feeding begins. The Roots and Shoots Club at Sandwich H.S. has volunteered to weigh and measure the turtles and clean their tank weekly until their release. The Burgess Society  also thankfully receives donations of pellets from Tetra Pet Food, as well as lettuce donations from Stop and Shop grocery stores. 

            The Red Bellies live in water that is held at a constant 84 to 86 degree temperature in order to further stimulate rapid growth.  Looking into the Burgess aquarium, one will notice that the turtles may be slightly difficult to see through the glass.  The last is intentionally tinted a dark shade on order to prevent turtles from growing accustomed to the sight of humans, which may hinder their chance of survival upon release.  An ultraviolet light is run on the tank eight to twelve hours a day as to mock sunlight. 

            Our Red Bellies are scheduled for release at the end of May, when they hopefully will have grown to be approximately the size of a dinner plate.  The Burgess Society is one of over twenty agencies in the Massachusetts area that participate in the Head Start program.  Among the other organizations are various area high schools, The New England Aquarium and The Boston Museum of Science.  Of the 21 participants in the 2006-2007 growth year, the Burgess Society proudly grew the largest turtles.  Since Head Start’s inception in 1981, the population of Red Bellied Cooters has tripled.  Even with such a seemingly dramatic increase in numbers, the turtles are unfortunately still listed as an endangered species.  The Thornton Burgess Society has been part of this program  for about 18 years and they look forward to continuing to help increase the number of these turtles in the coming years.  With ongoing efforts, hopefully the Red Bellied Cooters will be taken off of the list of endangered species in the near future.