Comments on: Turtle Town, USA, by Mick Shaffer

By: AmandaG

AmandaG — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:40:07 +0000

I remember when one of those turtles bit Lopez’s thumb and Mr. Petesch had to pry its mouth open with a pencil to get it to let go. Don’t fuck with Kansas. Even ordinary turtles are fierce thumb-biting ninjas in disguise.

By: GEOFF

GEOFF — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:39:25 +0000

Haaaaaa…Kirt looks gay. Rubbing up on Shane all seductive-like.

By: M Shaffer

M Shaffer — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:05:02 +0000

M.A.M., you should’ve been in the 3rd grade.

Patricia, thanks for passing along the tips. In my research (Googling) for this post, I learned that the box turtles were close to being endangered. I had no idea.

Paul, you smell like Topeka.

Matt, I’ll work on it.

By: M Shirley

M Shirley — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:09:41 +0000

I want one of those t-shirts. And some of those glasses. (re: photo)

By: Oklahoma city gyms | Oklahoma Health News

Oklahoma city gyms | Oklahoma Health News — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:36:53 +0000

[...] Turtle Town, USA, by Mick ShafferThere are likely just as many Ornate Box Turtles in Hooker, Oklahoma or Intercourse, Pennsylvania or Hell, Michigan as there are in Caldwell, KS. Their habitat is not exactly restricted to one tiny, Kansas berg. They’re like the Irish: all over the place. … John Carlin signing House Bill 3113 into existence before a gym-full of students eagerly waiting to deliver on their well-choreographed program, those photos are getting grainier. I was only in the 3rd grade at the … read more… [...]

By: pshirley

pshirley — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:57:29 +0000

Yay Kansas!

(It’s my home state too.)

By: Middle Aged Man

Middle Aged Man — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:20:14 +0000

I was the Indian Chief in that play as a lowly 4th grader in Ms. Latty’s class. Good times. Are you going to be getting your kids’ school fired up to do a 150th Kansas play? I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.

You know, when we were in school, there were four gas stations in town compared to the singular turtle mural. Those were the days. Nothing to do after school in junior high except walk down to the One Stop and play Arkanoid or some helicopter game.

By: Patricia Johnson

Patricia Johnson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:20:14 +0000

Nice post. Box turtles are in decline throughout America. There are many simple steps that can be taken to protect your Ornates:
Never take a wild turtle home for a pet, or move it from its territory.
Plant native fruit trees and berry bushes.
Leave fallen logs, and/or create brush piles for them to hibernate in.
Watch for turtle crossing during nesting season.
Take them in the direction they are heading across a road.
Mow fields at 8″ or higher, and go from the inside outwards.

Turtles have an amazing ability to heal; hopefully a local vet knows about shell repair techniques. Also, should an unfortunate turtle be hit crossing the road, the eggs can often be successfully incubated.

These few simple steps can insure that Caldwell preserves its treasured co-residents.

My family has deep roots in Kansas, and when I was in college I was steps away from the border. It is a great state.