If there is one thing we have learned about field season, it is that every trip has its own story. Some trips are defined by unexpected wildlife sightings. Some are remembered for the places we visit. Some stand out because of the people who join us. And some become memorable because everything [...]
Over the course of six days, Grace and Becca logged 150 hours straight together as we bounced from northern Illinois to the Chicago area, then all the way down to eastern Tennessee and back again. Along the way, we met incredible people, sampled dozens of turtles, learned new skills, shared lots of laughs, and [...]
If there’s one phrase that perfectly describes our first official week out in the field, it’s this: muddy boots, full hearts, and LOTS of turtles!! This week marked the beginning of our summer field season for the Box Turtle Team, and what an incredible start it was! Not only did we officially kick off [...]
Recently in the field, we encountered numerous turtle shells left behind from previous mortality events. While these discoveries can initially feel discouraging, they also represent an important opportunity for wildlife disease surveillance. Even when soft tissues are long gone and all that remains is shell and bone, there is often still valuable information preserved that [...]
Introducing the Box Turtle Team Leaders of 2026!! Turtle season is officially back, and we could not be more excited! Over the next few months, we’ll be spending our days trekking through forests, prairies, wetlands, and field sites across Illinois in search of eastern (and occasionally ornate) [...]
