theTurtleRoom

What do salamanders under Vermont rocks, Texas Tortoises, Wood Turtles, Indigo Snakes, Gopher Tortoises, and Mudpuppies have in common? They’re all part of the journey that led Kiley Briggs to a career protecting some of North America’s most imperiled reptiles and amphibians.

Tonight, Kiley joins us on the Pondcast at 7 PM Eastern Time! Don't Miss This One!

https://www.youtube.com/

A healthy river is more than just a place for turtles to swim.

For the Texas river cooter, or Pseudemys texana if you’re feeling sciencey, healthy waterways provide the food, shelter, basking sites, and surrounding habitat these turtles need to thrive.

That makes protecting turtle habitat about more than protecting the turtles themselves. Clean water, healthy riverbanks, and intact surrounding habitat all play a role in keeping freshwater ecosystems healthy.

Okay, let's settle an important question.

If this Texas river coote needed a name, what would you call it?

Something dignified? Something completely ridiculous? Maybe a name that sounds like it belongs to a Texas cowboy?

We're taking suggestions.

Unscience Name: Texas river cooter

Science Name: Pseudemys texana

The Texas river cooter, Pseudemys texana, is a freshwater turtle native to Texas. Like other river cooters, it is closely tied to aquatic habitats and spends plenty of time in the water, but you may also spot one hauled out and basking.

If you saw this guy basking, would you stop to say hi and take a picture or keep walking to leave to let them enjoy the sun?

Fall is here! That means the turtles are noticing the change too!

With the days getting shorter and temps dropping, turtles and tortoises all have different ways of dealing with the changing seasons. Some slow down, some prepare for brumation, and others keep on keeping on!

What’s the first sign of fall that you love the best?

In Loving Memory of Sabine Schoppe

It is with great sorrow that we recognize the passing of Dr. Sabine Schoppe on September 13, 2026, less than six weeks after she was honored with the 21st Behler Turtle Conservation Award. A German conservation biologist who devoted more than three decades to protecting threatened wildlife in the Philippines, Sabine’s efforts included securing a future for the critically endangered Palawan Forest Turtle (Siebenrockiella leytensis). She was 63.

The Board and Staff of Turtle Survival Alliance remember Sabine with the greatest appreciation for her life, her work, and her lasting contributions to turtle conservation.

If you have a fond memory of Sabine and would like to share it with our global turtle community, please feel free to recount it in the comments below.

Read more about Sabine here: https://turtlesurvival.org/2026-behler-and-pritchard-turtle-conservation-awards/