Europe versus the United States (a turtle confrontation)

I just came across this fascinating article about turtles and tadpoles on a website called Wired Science. At first I thought it was "Weird" Science, which might have been a better title given the story! It turns out that various turtle species appear to emit a scent or taste that tadpoles pick up and provide them with a warning that danger is lurking. When they get this signal that one of their natural predators is swimming with them, the tadpoles stop moving about as much, thus reducing the chance that they will be eaten by the turtle. This works out just fine for the tadpoles, as long as no foreign (in this American) turtle happens to be invading their territory. The tadpoles don't seem to get the same alarm signal from the scent of these foreign species -- and as a result they don't slow down and get eaten.


You learn something new every day! Another neat thing about this article is that it contains two great photos of some very colorful turtles.

Visit Turtle Treasures for more fun turtle facts!

New Tillie the Turtle Bath Time Gift Set

The Tillie the Turtle Bath Time Gift Set features Tillie smiling serenely from a soft, white washcloth (7" x 5.5"). The matching pink and white hooded towel is supple enough that babies will adore its soft touch (30" square with an approximately 6" deep hood). The set is rounded out with a pair of terry slippers with no-snag elastic ankle straps. Each piece features Tillie's friendly face to keep kids company through the bath time experience. But maybe the best part of this package is the precious, reusable hat box container! Its durable construction and lovely depictions of Tillie go hand-in-hand with the lid's attached white, grosgrain ribbon. The package measures 7" in diameter and 5" in height.

Makes the perfect gift for a baby shower! Visit http://www.turtle-treasures.com/ for turtle themed baby shower gifts.

If you are driving through Wallingford, a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, you might find yourself confronting a giant ladybug. A neighborhood group painted a residential intersection there in 2006 with a beautiful and colorful ladybug. View Full Story Here. Each year they get together to refresh the painting. You can see it clearly using the satellite view in Google Maps.

What next? Another intersection in Wallingford is scheduled to be painted with a turtle design. What a great idea! Visit LadyBug Shop for great ladybug gifts and Turtle Treasures for unique turtle gifts.

Hoboken Turtle Club

I recently came across a fascinating history of what may have been America's oldest social club - the Hoboken Turtle Club. You can read the story here. Founded in 1796 the club's original purpose was to control the turtle population along the shore of Hoboken, on the Hudson River. Their chosen way to achieve this end was to eat the turtles, primarily in the form of turtle soup. The club was founded by John Stevens, a former Captain in George Washington’s Continental army. Among its early members were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Aaron Burr and Henry Clay. The club continued to function until the late 1930s, although its name was changed to the New York Turtle Club in 1892.
So what does turtle soup taste like? Here is how one member in 1887 described the experience: “ … you lay aside all earthly thoughts, forgive all your enemies, and forget all your creditors and put a teaspoon full of it into your mouth. Then you remove the spoon and shut your eyes, and your soul, on the wings of sensuous thought, passes outward into lotus land, and for a time you are lost in a dream that is so still, so perfect, and so all absorbing that you wish, lazily and sadly, it might never end.”

Surprisingly, too much turtle in turtle soup can spoil the taste, as the meat is so rich. According to one of the club’s most famous cooks, the main ingredients were vegetables including: potatoes, turnips, cabbage, radishes, peas, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers and cauliflower. Of course there were some other “secret” ingredients that he refused to divulge.

Fortunately for the turtle population in the United States, in most jurisdictions making turtle soup is illegal because many species of turtles are now considered endangered, and cannot be legally captured or killed. Turtle populations cannot quickly recover from the loss of a breeding adult, thus, killing these turtles to make soup can depress populations below sustainable levels.

The motto of the Hoboken Turtle Club was: “As we journey through life, let us live by the way."

Tortoise Is Dancing at Satisfaction

Get your kids and watch this fun tortoise video! The turtle is dancing as it is being "tickled" with a toothbrush. Visit http://www.turtle-treasures.com/!

Happy Fourth of July

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July. Here is a little turtle dance to get the weekend started! Turtle Time!

Thank you for visiting www.turtle-treasures.com!