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MCC Daily Tribune

Turtle Hatchlings Emerge!

The wait is over! On Tuesday, after 111 days, 26 tiny snapping turtles emerged from their underground nest in front of Building 5. With the help of students and staff alike, the hatchlings were transported to the pond where they were released.

If they could, the hatchlings would send their heartfelt thanks to:

  • Students Michele Jackson and Norris Colbert who spent several hours watching over the nest as many of the hatchlings emerged, and then carefully placed them in a box to be carried to the pond,
  • Student Ross Bertucci who personally carried a hatchling to the pond after finding it walking along the sidewalk, 
  • Professor Heather Williams who saw the occasion as a teachable moment for her ENG-230 World Mythology students and invited them to gather at the pond to assist with the release of the last six hatchlings.
  • MCC employees Eric Mendel, Ashley Smock, Lori Moses, and Alisa Camp who made sure well over a dozen other hatchlings made it to safety,
  • The Facilities Department personnel who put up the protective fence around the nest area back in late March, and
  • Everyone who kept an eye on the nest over the last several months.

Although this experience was exciting and educational, it could have been a turtle disaster. (Get it?) 

Photos of the female snapping turtle laying her eggs on March 31 and of Tuesday's events are attached.

PS: I went into a book store to ask if they had any books about turtles. The cashier asked, “Hardback?” I said, “Yeah, and little heads.”

Photo Captions:

  • Turtle Photo 1: Group of students from Professor Heather Williams' class observing the turtles hatching from their nest in the flowerbed near Building 5
  • Turtle Photo 2: Hatchling surrounded by leaves twigs and mud crawling near water in pond
  • Turtle Photo 3:  MCC students and staff members observing hatchlings being released into pond
  • Turtle Photo 4:  MCC students Michele Jackson and Prof. Heather Williams collect hatchlings from flowerbed nest in front of Building 5 while student Norris Colbert and another MCC professor look on. 
  • Turtle Photo 5: MCC students, faculty and staff members gathered in front of Building 5 around a box containing turtle hatchlings
  • Turtle Photo 6: Six snapping turtle hatchlings sit in the bottom of a box awaiting transport to the pond
  • Turtle Photo 7:  Snapping turtle hatchling emerging from soil
  • Turtle Photo 8: Hatchling surrounded by leaves twigs and mud crawling near water in pond 
  • Turtle Photo 9:  Closeup shot of student's hand holding the egg shell from which a hatchling emerged
  • Turtle Photo 10: Adult female snapping turtle laying an egg in the flowerbed nest she dug in front of Building 5

Attached Files:
Turtle Photo 1.jpg
Turtle Photo 2.jpg
Turtle Photo 3.jpg
Turtle Photo 4.jpg
Turtle Photo 5.jpg
Turtle Photo 6.jpg
Turtle Photo 7.jpg
Turtle Photo 8.jpg
Turtle Photo 9.jpg
Turtle Photo 10.jpg

Alisa Camp
Technology Services - AVP Office
09/21/2023