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You can make a difference for turtles by purchasing Molly's turtle soaps. All proceeds support native NC turtles, their habitat, and education programs. Give a gift that gives twice!
Molly's handmade soap can be purchased in the gift shops at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
Hemlock Bluffs: 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary,
Museum: 11 W. Jones St, Raleigh, 919-733-7450 ext. 369
Molly's soaps will be available at Turtlefest, May 12
Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs
Park info available at the link below
http://www.hollyspringsnc.us/index.aspx? NID=320
Featured in The News & Observer Holiday Gift Guide for 2011!
In 2006, Molly's family adopted two red-eared sliders (RES) named Bella and Ella. As Molly learned more about keeping turtles she not only developed a passion for all aquatic creatures but also became aware that few organizations exist which help to re-home pet turtles. These pets can live for a decade or more and there are few resources available in the US to help owners who can no longer keep their turtles. Raleigh Aquatic Turtle Adoption (RATA) was born when Wimbley and Abby joined Bella and Ella in "Lab 15" which is the room where Molly tends to many of her aquatic pets.
For many reasons, pet turtles should not be released into the wild. RATA helps individuals re-home their freshwater, pet turtles. We accomplish this by either adopting the turtle ourselves or (more commonly) linking owners needing to relinquish their pets with families or classrooms seeking a pet turtle. As we are not a rescue organization, our primary work is facilitating turtle adoptions. Even though we are based in North Carolina's Piedmont region we have worked with families and schools from California to Chicago to New York.
3/19/12 UPDATE: We had a very busy winter and adoptions have not slowed down a bit! We're at capacity for adult or large turtles. If you have a small turtle (the size of your palm or smaller) we have limited indoor space as of today.
FAQ's
I thought it was illegal to sell baby turtles, how does this still happen? These stores avoid the 4" shell regulation by 'giving' the turtle to customers with the purchase of a tank. If no one purchased these tanks and turtles, stores would no longer sell them. A baby turtle starts out the size of a quarter but can end up being as large as a salad plate and live for decades. Please do not buy baby turtles at the beach.
How can I get my turtle to you? Send an email to info@raleighaquaticturtleadoption.com with a picture of your turtle. You can bring the turtle to us or ship it via UPS or Fed Ex (shipping generally costs around $50 for one turtle).
How can I adopt a turtle? Send an email to
info@raleighaquaticturtleadoption.com
Do you charge fees? We do not charge fees of any kind.
What kind of turtles do you adopt? We adopt many kinds of freshwater turtles but unfortunately we cannot take snapping turtles. If you need to re-home your snapping turtle try contacting Reptile Rescue of the Carolinas or CCSB Reptile Rescue.
Where do you keep your turtles? Small turtles are housed in "Lab 15" while larger turtles swim freely in our 3,000 gallon backyard pond. While some turtles live with us, our goal with many of them is to find them new homes.
Won't my turtle be happier living in a large pond instead of a tank? Years ago we would've answered "Yes" to this question but we've learned that every turtle is truly different and pond life is not for all. Some turtles thrive in larger environments and others seem frightened. If a turtle seems too scared to come up to regularly bask or eat then it may not be appropriate for a large pond. We would rather see this turtle living indoors so the owner can ensure it receives what it needs on a daily basis to live a healthy life.
If I give up my turtle for adoption will the new family care for it the same way I do? We know you love your pet and have enjoyed caring for it. We can promise to find a new family that will cherish it as much as you have. Unfortunately, we cannot promise what the future tank size will be for your turtle or that a unique care regimen you have in place will be followed. We adopt to families that demonstrate an understanding of proper turtle care and with the space to house a minimum of a 20-40 gallon tank (or larger) depending on the size of your turtle. Requests for us to take in turtles vastly outnumber the families or classrooms wanting them as pets and because of this we can offer owners only one placement opportunity.
I purchased a baby RES at the beach and can no longer take care of it, will you adopt it? We strongly discourage purchasing baby turtles from vacation spots and coastal areas. At this time we have many RES and we actively work to re-home RES that need placement. RES that we adopt out mostly live in tanks with families or in classrooms.
Is is safe to list my turtle for adoption with a free, online classified ad? Understandably, owners want their turtle to go to a great new home. We don't see free advertising as something to be concerned about when placing your turtle. In fact, we found our first turtles by responding to that type of ad. When talking with a prospective family, use good judgement to determine whether or not your turtle would be in safe hands. Please don't automatically disqualify prospective owners who've never cared for turtles before, if that had been the case for us we would not have received Bella and Ella, and RATA would not have been created. Finally, if you're not comfortable with a prospective owner, simply move on until you find a good fit.
Since I have a water turtle, can I release it in a lake? Unfortunately, this is not only unsafe it can also be illegal (which it is in NC). Some turtles are considered invasive species meaning they have a negative impact on native turtles by competing for habitat, nest sites and food. RES in particular are problematic in many states and around the world. Non-native turtles can also introduce unwanted disease into native turtle populations. As well, your turtle may no longer be afraid of people which could lead to an unsafe encounter.
I found an injured turtle, can you help me? If you have collected an injured turtle in the wild call your local vet for contact information for a wildlife rehabber in your area.
I found a baby turtle outside, is it safe out there or should I bring it indoors? As tiny and helpless as baby turtles look, it's best to leave them alone and not bring them inside. They are well-equipped with instincts to take care of themselves.
What can I donate to RATA? We can always use new and gently used tanks.
How can I keep my turtle tank clean? Our experience has shown that the water in turtle tanks stays clean when we follow three easy rules: 1) we purchased the strongest filter we could afford (it's best not to skimp on this) and we keep the filter media clean/changed, 2) we don't overfeed the turtles or give them human food as treats, and 3) we don't have decorative substrate. This means that for us, cleaning the filters (or replacing filter pads altogether) takes less than an hour of work four times a year; we only feed sticks and occasionally a cricket or minnow; and we use a minimal amount of larger (half-dollar sized) gravel and Java Moss as substrate. (Java Moss isn't for everyone, so be sure to do your research before bringing this plant home.)
2011 was the Year of the Turtle, learn more by
clicking here.
More about Molly
As a result of RATA, Molly has developed a keen interest in many STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), however, RATA remains her first love. In addition to caring for RATA turtles as well as her school turtle, Molly is a volunteer at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and a Junior Curator at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. She enjoys meeting with people to talk about making backyards friendly for turtles and all of nature.
April, 2012: MOLLY HAS RECEIVED 2nd PLACE IN THE
ACTION FOR NATURE's 2012 INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ECO-HERO AWARDS PROGRAM!
Molly's Tumblr page
http://raleighaquaticturtleadoption.tumblr.com/
PARC Year of the Turtle 2011 November Newsletter
http://scienceinthetriangle.org/2011/02/from-fish-to-turtles-to-facebook-to-starting-science-camp-at-the-age-of-12/
http://www.rlscary.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Future-City.pdf
http://scienceinthetriangle.org/2010/12/tapping-puberty-to-narrow-the-gender-gap-in-science/
http://www.rlscary.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2010-2011-Awards-and-Accomplishments-updated-3-1-11.pdf
Molly also sells turtle shaped soaps as a fundraiser for North Carolina turtles and their habitat. Soap making was one of her Grandfather's hobbies. After he passed away, her Grandmother continued to make soap and then taught Molly. All proceeds from the sales of Molly's turtle soap are donated to support native turtles and their habitat.
More about RATA
Member, Reptile Rescue of the Carolinas
Member, NCPARC (North Carolina Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation)
Member, NC Herpetological Association
Reptile Permit, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
For many reasons, pet turtles should not be released into the wild. RATA helps individuals re-home their freshwater, pet turtles. We accomplish this by either adopting the turtle ourselves or (more commonly) linking owners needing to relinquish their pets with families or classrooms seeking a pet turtle. As we are not a rescue organization, our primary work is facilitating turtle adoptions. Even though we are based in North Carolina's Piedmont region we have worked with families and schools from California to Chicago to New York.
3/19/12 UPDATE: We had a very busy winter and adoptions have not slowed down a bit! We're at capacity for adult or large turtles. If you have a small turtle (the size of your palm or smaller) we have limited indoor space as of today.
FAQ's
I thought it was illegal to sell baby turtles, how does this still happen? These stores avoid the 4" shell regulation by 'giving' the turtle to customers with the purchase of a tank. If no one purchased these tanks and turtles, stores would no longer sell them. A baby turtle starts out the size of a quarter but can end up being as large as a salad plate and live for decades. Please do not buy baby turtles at the beach.
How can I get my turtle to you? Send an email to info@raleighaquaticturtleadoption.com with a picture of your turtle. You can bring the turtle to us or ship it via UPS or Fed Ex (shipping generally costs around $50 for one turtle).
How can I adopt a turtle? Send an email to
info@raleighaquaticturtleadoption.com
Do you charge fees? We do not charge fees of any kind.
What kind of turtles do you adopt? We adopt many kinds of freshwater turtles but unfortunately we cannot take snapping turtles. If you need to re-home your snapping turtle try contacting Reptile Rescue of the Carolinas or CCSB Reptile Rescue.
Where do you keep your turtles? Small turtles are housed in "Lab 15" while larger turtles swim freely in our 3,000 gallon backyard pond. While some turtles live with us, our goal with many of them is to find them new homes.
Won't my turtle be happier living in a large pond instead of a tank? Years ago we would've answered "Yes" to this question but we've learned that every turtle is truly different and pond life is not for all. Some turtles thrive in larger environments and others seem frightened. If a turtle seems too scared to come up to regularly bask or eat then it may not be appropriate for a large pond. We would rather see this turtle living indoors so the owner can ensure it receives what it needs on a daily basis to live a healthy life.
If I give up my turtle for adoption will the new family care for it the same way I do? We know you love your pet and have enjoyed caring for it. We can promise to find a new family that will cherish it as much as you have. Unfortunately, we cannot promise what the future tank size will be for your turtle or that a unique care regimen you have in place will be followed. We adopt to families that demonstrate an understanding of proper turtle care and with the space to house a minimum of a 20-40 gallon tank (or larger) depending on the size of your turtle. Requests for us to take in turtles vastly outnumber the families or classrooms wanting them as pets and because of this we can offer owners only one placement opportunity.
I purchased a baby RES at the beach and can no longer take care of it, will you adopt it? We strongly discourage purchasing baby turtles from vacation spots and coastal areas. At this time we have many RES and we actively work to re-home RES that need placement. RES that we adopt out mostly live in tanks with families or in classrooms.
Is is safe to list my turtle for adoption with a free, online classified ad? Understandably, owners want their turtle to go to a great new home. We don't see free advertising as something to be concerned about when placing your turtle. In fact, we found our first turtles by responding to that type of ad. When talking with a prospective family, use good judgement to determine whether or not your turtle would be in safe hands. Please don't automatically disqualify prospective owners who've never cared for turtles before, if that had been the case for us we would not have received Bella and Ella, and RATA would not have been created. Finally, if you're not comfortable with a prospective owner, simply move on until you find a good fit.
Since I have a water turtle, can I release it in a lake? Unfortunately, this is not only unsafe it can also be illegal (which it is in NC). Some turtles are considered invasive species meaning they have a negative impact on native turtles by competing for habitat, nest sites and food. RES in particular are problematic in many states and around the world. Non-native turtles can also introduce unwanted disease into native turtle populations. As well, your turtle may no longer be afraid of people which could lead to an unsafe encounter.
I found an injured turtle, can you help me? If you have collected an injured turtle in the wild call your local vet for contact information for a wildlife rehabber in your area.
I found a baby turtle outside, is it safe out there or should I bring it indoors? As tiny and helpless as baby turtles look, it's best to leave them alone and not bring them inside. They are well-equipped with instincts to take care of themselves.
What can I donate to RATA? We can always use new and gently used tanks.
How can I keep my turtle tank clean? Our experience has shown that the water in turtle tanks stays clean when we follow three easy rules: 1) we purchased the strongest filter we could afford (it's best not to skimp on this) and we keep the filter media clean/changed, 2) we don't overfeed the turtles or give them human food as treats, and 3) we don't have decorative substrate. This means that for us, cleaning the filters (or replacing filter pads altogether) takes less than an hour of work four times a year; we only feed sticks and occasionally a cricket or minnow; and we use a minimal amount of larger (half-dollar sized) gravel and Java Moss as substrate. (Java Moss isn't for everyone, so be sure to do your research before bringing this plant home.)
2011 was the Year of the Turtle, learn more by
clicking here.
More about Molly
As a result of RATA, Molly has developed a keen interest in many STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), however, RATA remains her first love. In addition to caring for RATA turtles as well as her school turtle, Molly is a volunteer at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and a Junior Curator at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. She enjoys meeting with people to talk about making backyards friendly for turtles and all of nature.
April, 2012: MOLLY HAS RECEIVED 2nd PLACE IN THE
ACTION FOR NATURE's 2012 INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ECO-HERO AWARDS PROGRAM!
Molly's Tumblr page
http://raleighaquaticturtleadoption.tumblr.com/
PARC Year of the Turtle 2011 November Newsletter
http://scienceinthetriangle.org/2011/02/from-fish-to-turtles-to-facebook-to-starting-science-camp-at-the-age-of-12/
http://www.rlscary.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Future-City.pdf
http://scienceinthetriangle.org/2010/12/tapping-puberty-to-narrow-the-gender-gap-in-science/
http://www.rlscary.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2010-2011-Awards-and-Accomplishments-updated-3-1-11.pdf
Molly also sells turtle shaped soaps as a fundraiser for North Carolina turtles and their habitat. Soap making was one of her Grandfather's hobbies. After he passed away, her Grandmother continued to make soap and then taught Molly. All proceeds from the sales of Molly's turtle soap are donated to support native turtles and their habitat.
More about RATA
Member, Reptile Rescue of the Carolinas
Member, NCPARC (North Carolina Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation)
Member, NC Herpetological Association
Reptile Permit, NC Wildlife Resources Commission