8 Endangered Northern Red-Bellied Cooters in Wareham, MA
On April 19th, Cat Honkonen reported that endangered Northern Red-Bellied Cooters (Pseudemys rubriventris) had re-emerged in her abutting Wareham pond. She sent this picture of eight (8) mature red bellies basking on a rock in the middle of the pond. Last year, Cat documented their emergence on March 23rd, nearly a month earlier than this chilly spring. (See Endangered Red-Bellied Cooters Emerge in Wareham.)
Seven Endangered Northern Red Bellied-Cooters
Cat continues to experience the miracle of elusive turtles. She is amazed by the magical and mysterical ability of turtles to multiply. In 2011, Cat counted two mature cooters. In 2012, she was stunned to see six. And this year, she photographed eight during their initial emergence from winter slumber.Â
Thanks to citizen scientists like Cat, who monitor endangered species in Massachusetts, the knowledge they provide about locations, population size and activies ensures that we can protect these rare critters and their fragile habitats  for future generations of Bay Staters.