Something New Observed !

                                             Hi all , 

You know, I have always told you to be observant when outdoors. If you are observant (looking and thinking ) you will experience all the beautiful wonders Nature has for you ! This morning we found this in our yard(picture). Do you see how well it is camouflaged ? We really had to be observant to find it! Do you see it ? Its a turtle !  Did I reach down and pick it up ? NO ! If you remember the rules of an outdoor investigation , you never touch anything without an adult's permission . So if you find something like this - First go get an adult . You have seen me hold my turtles at school but that does not mean you should pick up a turtle you find. Some turtles can be VERY Dangerous ! As an adult the first thing we need to do is figure out if this is a snapping turtle. I of course do not want to hurt him in any way either.  The way I test is to hold a LONG stick in front of his head. If he snaps it or grabs it I know he is a snapping turtle and I need to leave him alone. If he pulls his head in for protection he is not a snapping turtle. Snapping turtles bite because they have no other protection like many turtles do. A snapping turtle is very dangerous so never ever get close to it! This turtle pulled his head in and so I knew it was not dangerous. I wanted to study him and share what I learn with you so the next step is to make him a home very much like his natural habitat and give him all his basic needs. Aren't you glad you are learning all this in your Science classes so you could do this as well at your house perhaps?  Down below you will see I moved him out of his camouflage surrounding so you can see him better. Now I have a job to do - I have to build him a habitat. I will not keep him long because he is more comfortable in the wild and perhaps he will find my backyard is a pretty good place to live . 

Now take your journal and draw a picture of the turtle. How is he different from  the turtles I showed you in past posts (our lab turtles ) ? Will his habitat look like that habitat? Can he live in an aquarium or would a large terrarium be a better habitat ?  Why  ? 

Check for the next post and I will show you the home I have made for him .

Just in case you want to research this turtle . He is an eastern box turtle . My other turtles are red- eared sliders . 

I will show you more of the differences in turtles in other posts. 

Keep checking with me and let me know if you find anything in your yard or on your walks.  Just remember the safety rules ! 

Now go out and explore  your world ! 

Comment below with your gmail !

Ms. Lucadou

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