CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. (WZZM)- Most of the 2,000 animals captured after the Michigan
oil spill are turtles and it turns out the hardy reptiles are fighters.
Wildlife workers have rehabilitated several hundred turtles and released them back into the wild. About 300 turtles will remain in care for the winter at a makeshift rehabilitation center in Marshall. Caretakers will keep them in warm conditions to break the natural hibernation cycle.
Chris Tabaka with the Binder Park Zoo says, “They’re going to lose one hibernation cycle, it’s not like we’re keeping them out of hibernation year after year. It’s shouldn’t slow them down in the least, and of course we’re going to fatten them up all winter long, so they’ll be ready to go during their reproductive cycles in the springtime.”
The turtles will be released back into the wild when they emerge from hibernation in the spring.