Columbia River Gorge, Washington – Nineteen northwestern pond turtles reared at the Oregon Zoo were returned to the wild last week as part of a regional recovery project.

The release took place with help from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and members of the Klickitat Band of the Yakama Nation, including Chief Wilbur Slockish Jr.

Since last spring, the turtles had been raised in the Oregon Zoo’s conservation lab. There, they were given warmth and light to simulate summer conditions, allowing them to grow strong enough to survive outdoors.

Conservation scientists use a method called “head-starting.” They collect hatchlings from wild sites and care for them in the lab for up to a year.

“We’ve been caring for these turtles in the lab since last year,” said Jen Osburn Eliot of the Oregon Zoo. “They’re big enough now to have a much better chance of surviving in the wild.”

Before release, keepers acclimate the turtles by letting them spend time outside. Once they reach about 50 grams in weight, the turtles are taken to ponds in the Columbia River Gorge.

In one study, scientists estimated that 95% of released turtles survive each year in the Gorge.

“The bigger the turtle, the harder it is for a bullfrog to gobble it up,” said Eliot.

The American bullfrog, an invasive species in the West, is a major threat. It is the largest frog species on the continent and can weigh more than a pound. It has pushed pond turtles and other small aquatic species toward extinction.

The northwestern pond turtle is endangered in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon. Two decades ago, there were fewer than 100 left in Washington. Since then, over 1,600 turtles have been released through zoo-led efforts.

“Every group of turtles we release is important,” said Eliot. “We need to get the numbers up if we’re going to help save the species.”

The Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project is a collaboration among multiple partners including the Oregon Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, government agencies, and conservation groups.

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