Environmental Science Majors Protect Turtle Population Through Internship

On a breezy, sunny summer morning at the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Ella Brennan and Karson Smith inched carefully through waist-high grass in search of one of the several wood turtles the East Stroudsburg University environmental science majors are tasked with protecting in their roles as interns there.

Armed with a large metal tracking device that draws a signal from transmitters placed on the turtles, Brennan and Smith navigate down dirt paths, beside streams, over bridges, and through dense vegetation at the refuge headquartered in Stroudsburg that stretches along nearly 5,500 acres between Monroe and Northampton counties.

Their pursuit is part of a practice called “headstarting,” a strategy that aims to support the survival of wood turtle hatchlings by raising them in captivity, ensuring their growth by making sure they are adequately fed, and protecting them from predators. Brennan and Smith look over approximately 10 young turtles that hatched last year.

“They’ll actually grow to the size of a two-year-old in the span of us feeding them over a year,” said Smith, a junior from Bangor, Pa.

Once the reptiles are ready, they’ll be sent to Delaware and released back into the wild to support the wood turtle population there.

While not endangered, wood turtles are in decline, making the work of Brennan, Smith and others at the refuge urgent.

“They are very important to the ecosystems and all the other organisms and critters that are around here,” said Brennan, a senior from Bucks County. “If the wood turtle goes, then the ecosystem wouldn’t be able to thrive as it would otherwise.”

Via trail cameras, Brennan and Smith watch closely for signs of mother wood turtles burying eggs, then move to protect that area from predators or poachers until the hatchlings are born, as the mother turtles do not return to look over their young.

Pausing at one particular location, Brenna and Smith double check that eggs – recently buried several inches underground – haven’t been disturbed. The small area where the eggs are buried is protected by a metal cage, while an electric fence guards a larger radius around the site.

“These eggs are likely to hatch in late July or early August,” said Smith, kneeling beside the burial area.

“Without the trail camera, we wouldn’t even know these eggs are here,” Brennan added.

From there, Brennan and Smith press on in their search. Minutes later, in a densely grassed area about 20 feet off a path, they find their target.

“Here she is,” Smith called out.

Examining the turtle, Smith noted it was missing part of its leg and tail, likely due to a predator.

“She still makes it along just fine,” Smith said.

On a notepad, Brennan then logged where the turtle was located, marking down its GPS coordinates and what condition it was in, before placing it back where it was found.

On other days, Brennan and Smith pitch in with community education programs, including a recent event in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission that taught the public about snakes. They’re also planning their own event on Aug. 15 called “18 Holes of Wildlife,” which plays off the refuge’s origin as a golf course.

“I am so grateful,” Brennan said. “I tell everybody here all the time, too, that I’m so happy that this worked out the way it did, and that I get to have this chance here to make a difference.”

Paul Wilson, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at ESU and a regular contributor to educational programming at Cherry Valley, said it is encouraging to see younger generations of students taking an interest in conservation.

“Students like Ella and Karson understand and can demonstrate the critical connection between the clean air, water and quality of life enjoyed by the surrounding community and conservation and restoration efforts on Cherry Creek,” Dr. Wilson said. “At the same time, the students’ connection to the community, combined with their infectious enthusiasm and positive outlook, make it easier for others to share their understanding and love of the natural world.”

Beyond the fulfillment they get from helping a vulnerable species beat the odds and the career experience they are receiving as students, Brennan and Smith said their internships at Cherry Valley have confirmed what they want to do after graduating from ESU.

“This internship has made me realize the importance of working outdoors in my future career,” Smith said. “I definitely do still want to go into a conservation career and help the wildlife in any way I can.”

Brennan also highlighted working outside as one of the benefits of an environmental science career.

“If I’m working outside every day, it doesn’t feel like I’m actually working,” she said. “I’m doing something I love.”

Learn more about ESU’s environmental science degree.

For more information about Cherry Valley, visit its website.

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