Habitat Hero – June 2022

Brendan Curran and Thea

I have been trying to come up with our next Habitat Hero of 2022 and I was looking for something that we have not seen in the past when I came upon a post from Brendan Curran asking for ferns and other plants he could use in his turtle rescue habitat and a light came on (well it took a week but it eventually came on).  I contacted him about being our next Habitat Hero and asked him to tell me more about his turtle habitats as well as what else he was doi

ng to make a welcoming place for the native fauna.  His response blew me away.  His love of turtles was obvious and made him a hero in my book but Brendan is actively working to improve his piece of nature and learn more.  He is learning the benefits of planting native plants and creating a healthy space for his turtles, his family and the backyard wildlife.  He now has hummingbirds, monarchs and many birds using the space.  He has plans to add more gardens, reducing the amount of traditional lawn and he wants to add a pond which will greatly enhance his ecosystem and his ability help species of turtles that need the water! As he adds more gardens he will be adding native plants.  Below is his journey to Habitat Hero in his words.

Sunshine

I moved to the Cape from Colorado three years ago. Aside from five clumps of maiden grass, my yard was completely barren.  The social media posts from the Cape Conservation Corps, Garden Club, and Cape Gardeners influenced me to pay more attention to what I was planting, why I was planting it, and how I tend to the environment.  My yard is a mixture of natives and non-natives. I have invested a lot in establishing butterfly weed and cardinal flowers throughout for pollinators (I recently discovered that hummingbirds love it as well!).  This was the first year that I saw multiple monarch larvae and butterflies taking advantage of the plants. I planted a variety of sunflowers this year that have been a buffet to goldfinches, squirrels, and even served as a playground for fox kits.  I’ve enjoyed the personal journey of caring less about aesthetics and more about what benefit I’m bringing to my little slice of terra firma here in Cape St. Claire.  

Penny

I’m really proud of the habitats I have established for Eastern Box Turtles. I’m part of the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society, an all-volunteer organization directed by concerned hobbyists and professionals who saw a need to reach out to the public and improve the conditions under which captive chelonians are kept and try to protect local species and their habitats. I’ve worked with outreach, but my primary role is traveling across the state to rescue turtles and tortoises in need.  Find a wild turtle struck by a car or lawnmower?  I will secure the turtle, render stabilizing aid, and transport it to a specialty veterinarian or master wildlife rehabber.  I also take in turtles to be housed before returning to the wild, turtles that cannot return to the wild, and on occasion foster/house a turtle before it can be adopted out. My long-term goal is to construct a habitat specifically for the rehabilitation, or rescue, of Eastern Mud Turtles and the endangered Spotted Turtle. 

Jim Bob

I’ve been fascinated with turtles my entire life, but it wasn’t until the past two years that I was able to actively pursue this passion.  The same with gardening.  As an active-duty soldier, I would frequently re-locate and seldom had the chance to invest time/effort (or money) into my own outdoor habitat.  That will be changing though! I’m retiring from the US Army this year after 25 years of service. We are putting down roots in the Cape (literally and figuratively) and I can’t wait to feed my passions.   

Oh, and I am pesticide free.  No pesticides on the lawn or spray in the area! I will occasionally add nutrients to the “lawn”.  I say “lawn” because it is a combination of grass, weeds, and clover….which is fine by me. 

I enjoyed my visit with Brendan and his family, wife Carrie Arnold and daughter 7 year old Thea, although she was quick to point to Brendan as the Turtle Hero!  He currently has 4 resident turtles that I was able to visit, hold and stroke (yes they can feel that and respond!)  There are Penny, Jim Bob, Sunshine and Wellington.  They now have beautiful, safe places to live out their days protected from the dangers of the natural world as they are not able to be re-released into the wild for various medical reasons.  Each turtle has their own unique personality and habitats (Jim Bob had to be separated from the ladies to give them a break). 

As luck would have it after my visit they picked up two more to foster!!