When I started grad school and had the opportunity to study bog turtles (one of the smallest and most threatened freshwater turtles in North America), I had never worked with a turtle (or even a reptile) species before. At the time, I didn't know the long history of turtles (origins date back to the Permian period) or that approximately 59% of the ~356 modern species known to date are predicted Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2017).
Through my studies and research, I grew attached to the plight of bog turtles and other turtles around the world. I know there are others interested in learning more about turtles and their conservation, so I’ve assembled a collection of modules for that purpose. Check out my recommendations below. —Suzanne Macey, Ph.D., Manager of the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners