North Fork Eastern Box Turtle Conservation Project
The Group is partnering with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Anna Thonis to study the threats eastern box turtles face and save the local population from extinction.
Relentless development pressure has resulted in a devastating loss of habitat for wildlife across the North Fork and beyond. The remaining habitat where eastern box turtles, Terrapene carolina, live and breed is often fragmented by high traffic roads. This presents a dangerous challenge as these reptiles need to cross busy roads to reach freshwater ponds in summer and leafy burrows in winter.
As a result, the Group has significant—but only anecdotal evidence—that more turtles are injured or killed by motor vehicles every year.
To establish a proactive conservation program, the Group is partnering with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Anna Thonis, affiliated with New York University’s Winchell Lab, to begin research on the local eastern box turtle population in late spring 2026.
Eastern box turtles are usually hidden from view or well camouflaged, making them extremely difficult for humans to find. To locate enough turtles for Dr. Thonis’ research, she partners with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kris Hoffman, who is also a wildlife detection dog handler and the owner of Newt and April, Labrador retrievers who are expertly trained to find turtles quickly and safely.
The findings from these surveys will help the Group determine a conservation management plan that includes preserving more land, restoring wildlife habitat, and advocating for the construction of turtle tunnels (wildlife underpasses) in areas where they are most at risk of being hit by vehicles.
What You Can Do
Dr. Thonis and the Group are collecting data on turtle road crossings on the North Fork. Whether a turtle is alive, injured, or deceased, every observation is valuable. The community can help by reporting all sightings below.
If you spot an injured or deceased turtle, contact Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons (631.779.3737) or Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center (631.728.9453).
Volunteer! Dr. Thonis needs volunteers for the North Fork field surveys. Find dates and details here.
