Year of the Turtle

Who doesn't like turtles?  In the garden they occasionally eat plants, but also insects, slugs and snails.

To celebrate the turtles and raise awareness about their status (over 40% of turtle species are threatened with extinction), several agencies and associations are joining together to declare 2011 "The Year of the Turtle."  Read more at their website.

More facts:  Turtles found in Iowa include snapping turtles, painted turtles and softshell turtles. See ISU Extension Publication IAN604, pages 22-24.

A total of 17 different species of turtles have been found in Iowa. See HerpNet.net.

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