SEND YOUR LETTER TO KDWP NOW: Save turtles, Stop Racing

End Turtle Racing in Kansas

Dear Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, You have the ability to protect our state reptile, the ornate box turtle, from population decline. It's time to end turtle racing across the state for good. When raced, turtles are often starved, dehydrated, and kept in unsurvivable temperatures. Not to mention, mixing turtles together promotes disease spreading; all it takes is just one sick turtle to make them all sick, and IF they are returned to nature, that sickness spreads further. Despite illness and the chance of being dropped, if ornate box turtles are not returned to their exact home range, they struggle to find water, food, and shelter and die. Turtles are “philopatric,” which means that they have a tendency to remain in or return to their area of birth. When turtles are collected for races, the probability of them being returned to their exact location is low. Consequently, these turtles suffer and perish searching for their homes and never finding them. And when turtles undertake these long journeys, they face the likelihood of being smashed by cars. We refer to a recent field study conducted by the seven zoos in Kansas affiliated with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which confirmed the species decline, and research done by Dr. Benjamin Reed, a biology professor at Washburn University whose main academic focus is the ornate box turtle. To echo the advice of Dr. Reed, "Children best learn about ornate box turtles by observing them in their natural habitats in the wild. The number of activities could be substituted for turtle races is endless. I want kids to have fun, but not at the expense of poor, innocent turtles." Thank you for staying committed to the health and wellbeing of our wildlife heritage for the benefit of future generations of Kansans.