Current:Home > Finance'I love animals': Texas woman rescues 33 turtles after their pond dries up-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
'I love animals': Texas woman rescues 33 turtles after their pond dries up
lotradecoin referral bonus structure View Date:2024-12-26 03:48:55
As Texas grapples with record-breaking temperatures and heat waves, with Austin recording 105-plus temperatures for more than 10 days, life has become hard for all its residents. The smallest ones included.
Sasha Bulkley, a resident of Cedar Park, a suburb about 16 miles northwest of Austin, was biking in her neighborhood when she saw a couple of turtles trying to cross the street.
Concerned by the situation, she called her husband to come pick her in their SUV so she could load her bike and help the turtles.
"I drove the turtles to the Brushy Creek Lake Park across from my neighborhood, about a mile and a half away" Bulkley told USA TODAY.
Its the law:Texans, protect your dogs from the heat with these helpful tips
The next day, as she was headed to a pilates class, she saw two more turtles on the road.
"I stopped and realized there were many turtles spread across the sidewalk and in the grass making their way to the street. I had been keeping an eye on the pond because the water was getting concerningly low," said Bulkley.
The Cedar Park resident said that the container she used to transport the first three turtles was still in her car, so she stopped and picked up 18 turtles to take to the lake and release them.
She then back to check if there were more turtles and found a couple of more to relocate.
"I checked the area by the pond every morning until the water dried out. In total, I was able to save 33 turtles within those last few days of the pond drying out," said Bulkley.
Poor baby:Bear cub with head stuck in plastic container rescued by park manager, shared on Instagram
Animal love
"I hate seeing animals suffer and I especially hate seeing them run over," said Bulkley. "I even leave containers of water out in my yard to help animals stay hydrated in this heat."
The Houston SPCA's Wildlife Center of Texas also recommends leaving out a fresh clean source of a water like a birdbath for animals to help them cope with the sweltering heat.
"I just love animals and feel bad when I see them hurt or struggling. It’s never a question in my mind to step in and help," Bulkely said.
She added that the turtles were at a risk of being run over because they could not climb the curb, which is why she moved them.
"With the pond dry, however, there was nowhere for them to go and taking them to the nearby lake seemed logical," said Bulkely, adding, "I hope the turtles are doing well and thriving in the lake."
Bulkley clarified that she hasn't been in touch with the city's animal control department regarding these turtles. However, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says it's okay to move a turtle and have shared guidelines on how to do so.
Meanwhile, Houston SPCA also says that unless turtles are injured, appear ill or covered in flies/ants, they do not need to be brought in.
"Uninjured turtles found on roadways are most likely looking to make their nest and should be helped across in the direction they were traveling," says the non-profit working to meet the needs of animals in Houston.
Take a dip:These Austin pools are offering free admission through Sept. 30 due to Texas heat wave
Stay safe:Extreme heat has caused several hiking deaths this summer
veryGood! (91)
Related
- CPI report for July is out: What does latest data mean for the US economy?
- 'Freedom to Learn' protesters push back on book bans, restrictions on Black history
- Ashley Graham’s 2-Year-Old Son Roman Gets Stitches on His Face
- I-95 in Connecticut closed, video shows bridge engulfed in flames following crash: Watch
- American Supercar: A first look at the 1,064-HP 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
- Arizona GOP wins state high court appeal of sanctions for 2020 election challenge
- Why Canelo Álvarez will fight Jaime Munguía after years of refusing fellow Mexican boxers
- 'You can't be gentle in comedy': Jerry Seinfeld on 'Unfrosted,' his Netflix Pop-Tart movie
- As Baltimore’s Sewer System Buckles Under Extreme Weather, City Refuses to Help Residents With Cleanup Efforts
- TikToker Isis Navarro Reyes Arrested After Allegedly Selling Misbranded Ozempic
Ranking
- Judge tells Google to brace for shakeup of Android app store as punishment for running a monopoly
- Slain Charlotte officer remembered as hard-charging cop with soft heart for his family
- Troops fired on Kent State students in 1970. Survivors see echoes in today’s campus protest movement
- An AI-powered fighter jet took the Air Force’s leader for a historic ride. What that means for war
- Ex-YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies a year after stepping down. Who is the current CEO?
- Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
- United Methodists remove anti-gay language from their official teachings on societal issues
- The Kentucky Derby could be a wet one. Early favorites Fierceness, Sierra Leone have won in the slop
Recommendation
-
Get 70% Off Kate Spade, 70% Off Coach, 40% Off Banana Republic, 40% Off Disney & Today's Top Deals
-
China launches lunar probe, looking to be 1st nation to get samples from far side of moon
-
Justin Hartley shifts gears in new drama Tracker
-
Arizona GOP wins state high court appeal of sanctions for 2020 election challenge
-
51 Must-Try Stress Relief & Self-Care Products for National Relaxation Day (& National Wellness Month)
-
Woman wins $1 million scratch-off lottery prize twice, less than 10 weeks apart
-
NYPD body cameras show mother pleading “Don’t shoot!” before officers kill her 19-year-old son
-
Late-season storm expected to bring heavy snowfall to the Sierra Nevada