“Bringing Turtles Out of Their Shells” with Pam Meier (And Real Turtles!)

Join wildlife rehabilitator Pam Meier, founder and director of The Turtle’s Back, Inc., and get to know Maine’s incredible native turtle species—face-to-face! Learn how fascinating and different they all are, why they are in decline, how to identify different species and genders, what to do (and not do) if you find a turtle, what rehabbing these ancient reptiles is all about, and how you can help. This program is suitable for all adults and children older than 8 years.

Turtles are one of the oldest yet most threatened groups of animals on earth. Three of Maine’s seven resident turtle species are on the state’s List of Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern Species. (Rehabilitation of migratory species, like sea turtles, requires a Federal permit.) Habitat loss, road mortality, human collection and predation continue to take huge tolls. As a long-lived reptile that’s slow to mature and reproduce, it takes a turtle many decades to simply replace itself. After 3 million years on earth, their future is now uncertain.

The Turtle’s Back now takes in as many as 100 turtles each year and provides phone support for many more, primarily between May and July when females travel up to a mile to nest, crossing dangerous roads in the process. During peak season it is essentially a full-time ER! And although many animals can be released the same season, some require a year or more to fully heal, so the work continues year-round. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, TTB relies on donations to keep that work going.

As one of the few experienced rehabilitators specializing in turtles, Pam shares her knowledge with other rehabbers, offering training seminars and mentoring apprentices. She has also developed a foil tape shell repair technique which was published in the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Journal in 2021 and is now widely used.