Turtle Talk at the Riverside Car Show

This past Saturday, the turtles and I were pleased to have been asked once again to be a part of the "Kid's Korner" at the Riverside Business Association's Car Show. We were joined by Marlene Robinson, who presented fun environmental activities like "Save the Earth! Paint with Dirt!" I always enjoy community events like these; I like meeting new people and hearing them tell their own "turtle tales," and I love watching people interact with the turtles. (Check out the pictures, and then try to tell me the little boy on Rover's back doesn't have the happiest face you've ever seen!) It's also a great way for the turtles and I to share our message that everyone can help save the turtles, and the planet, by remembering a few simple ideas. 

For those of you who haven't heard the turtles, here's a bit of what they talk about:

Why snapping turtles? Snappers are like turkey vultures. The turkey vultures eat road kill. Without them we would be up to our knees in squished possums and raccoons. Snapping turtles do the same thing in the water, eating the half-eaten fish and rotten plants that the other animals leave behind. They work harder to keep our waterways clean than most people I know. And they have been around since long before the dinosaurs came and went; it's just bad manners to chase them off the planet!

The best way to help the turtles, and ourselves, is to remember just two words: "Don't Litter!" Besides not dropping your own trash on the ground, pick up the candy wrapper or bottle you see on the ground—even if you didn't drop it. If everyone on the planet picked up just one piece of trash, 6 billion bits of litter would be cleaned up! What if we all picked up two?!

If we expand our definition of littering, we can make even more of a difference. If your car leaks oil, fix it, otherwise the oil will find its way into the storm drain and then into our waterways. Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers that will find their way into the water. If you must use them, choose organic products. Better yet, use native plant species in your yard—they require less water and are more resistant to pests. Adopt a storm drain near your home, and keep it clear of trash and debris. Not only will this keep the trash out of the drain, it will keep stormwater flowing properly, and help prevent street flooding.

These are just a few of the things that all of us can do. To learn more, or to become more active, contact or join your local watershed association. And remember... "We all live downstream!"