Radio-tracking endangered turtles to be topic

Tracking turtles with radio telemetry to be biologist's talk Wednesday, Oct. 23

"Turtle Telemetry: Using Radio Antennas to Track Turtles" will be prsented by Malta resident Carrie Milne-Zelman, Aurora University associate professor of biology, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Aurora University banquet hall, 1410 Marseillaise Place in Aurora. 

Milne-Zelman purchased radiotelemetry equipment with a $1,983 grant in 2012 from the State of Illinois' Wildlife Preservation Fund to monitor the locations and movements of Blanding's turtles in Kane County and neighboring counties in Illinois.

The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund assists non-game animals and native plants. Taxpayers can voluntarily contribute to the fund through a check-off option on the state income tax form.

"Blanding's turtles in Illinois were upgraded from 'threatened' to 'endangered' in 2009 due to a number of threats," Milne-Zelman said.

"Most of their wetlands have already been depleted due to agriculture in the past century, and new threats include suburban development, road mortality, collecting, and increases in raccoon populations."

The radiotelemetry equipment includes a transmitter that is glued to the turtle's shell. A researcher uses a receiver and antenna to locate the turtle. A

According to the Milne-Zelman, unlike most turtles in this area, Blanding's turtles migrate often from one wetland to another, traveling long distances to lay their eggs.

Their travels make them the most vulnerable to all turtles to threats, and at the same time, the hardest to locate their habitats for conservation measures.

Milne-Zelman said she talking to Kane County Forest Preserve officials and the Richardson Wildlife Foundation in Lee County to assist in capturing and radiotracking Blanding's turtles in this region. Additionally she is looking into making contacts with other organizations that could use help.

The presentation is part of."Here, There, & Everywhere," a free, public interactive exhibit of nature's physical forces at Aurora University's Phillips Library, 315 S. Gladsone Ave., in Aurora through Oct. 28.

Phillips Library was one of 30 locations in the nation chosen to feature the exhibit. Library hours are 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. The exhibit is on loan from the Chandra X-ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Mass. The display shows the parallels between the workings of stars, galaxies, and other processes in space plus familiar processes on Earh. With graphics in English, Spanish and Braille, the exhibit features 12 hands-on, tabletop demonstrations that explore wind, light, electricity, atoms, water waves, erosion, spirals and eruptions.Call (630) 844-5437 for more information.
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