Learn about Western pond turtle at club meeting
Although there are many tortoise and turtle owners in Bakersfield, not all know how to properly care for their pets. Luckily the Kern County chapter of the Turtle & Tortoise Club has information and resources to help.
The club will hold its next meeting today via Zoom featuring a guest speaker Robert Hazard discussing the Western pond turtle, the only native freshwater turtle in California. This elusive turtle lives among slow-moving creeks and streams along the western fringe of the Pacific coastline.
Its close relation to the tortoise may account for why it has continued to survive while the other native Californian turtle, the Sonoran mud turtle, is now extinct.
The talk will cover the turtle’s range, habitat, diet and what is being done to protect them.
Along with information, the all- volunteer club provides support and adopts out reptiles that people have relinquished to them. Currently they have a number of desert tortoises, which can live 80- plus years, who are coming out of hibernation and need good homes.
Your CTTC Kern County Chapter TeamThe meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. today with the waiting room opening at 6:10 p.m. for attendees to chat among themselves.
To join, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86945240351?pwd=b3pDMUp0WWtCUml3ODdrV3hOYndEUT09. The meeting ID is 869 4524 0351 and passcode is 852676.
For more information on the club, visit tortoise.org/kerncounty/index. html or call 873-1545.