Wild Turtle Week 2023 Infographics

Join the slow and steady #WildTurtleWeek movement on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest May 22 - 26, 2023! 

Wild Turtle Week is a collaborative initiative between the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to shell-e-brate all things related to turtles for one week, beginning Monday May 22nd, 2023 (the day before World Turtle Day®) and ending May 26, 2023.

We have included some new infographics below, in addition to the ones that were produced in collaboration with the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles and Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (CCITT) for Wild Turtle Week 2022.

Please feel free to download! 

For more Wild Turtle Week content, go to the Wild Turtle Week Library

Across a white background, a large snapping turtle seen from the side, with large claws and an elongated neck. Above it and to the right, text reads ‘It’s coming…May 23-27, 2022” To the left, in small text, reads ‘photo by Sam Stukel’. Below the turtle, text reads ‘Wild Turtle Week 2022’
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White text on an ochre red background reads "Reptiles are not often used to inspire conservation action, but they are fascinating creatures and serve indispensable roles in ecosystems across the planet. We all benefit from their role in controlling pest species and serving as prey to birds and other animals. - Dr. Sean T. O’Brien, President and CEO of NatureServe". Below the text, the drawing of a tortoise
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In white letters, across a blue background, text reads: “Take the Turtle Protector Pledge, because #EveryTurtleCounts. I pledge to: 1. Never take a turtle home from the wild. 2. If it's safe to do so, help turtles cross the road in the direction they are going. 3. Never release a pet turtle in the wild, where it could harm native species. 4. Protect turtle habitat by leaving no trace, and leaving no trash. 5. Spread the word that #everyturtlecounts.” Below that, a turtle graphic, and a line for a signature.
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Turtle Facts: 

Infographic showing a picture of a turtle and two messages. First message reads: Be an educated consumer. Check the regulations on possessing turtles where you live, and find reputable dealers. Second message reads: Ask questions before you buy. Where did it come from? Was it legally acquired? If captive-bred, were its parents legally acquired?
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Infographic showing two circles, one with messages and one with a picture of a common snapping turtle hatchling. Text reads: Did you know? In a recent 6-year period, more than 700 thousand common snapping turtles were exported from the U.S. Can they keep pace with demand? The common snapping turtle generally takes at least a decade to reach reproductive age, and the rest of its life is to produce an offspring that survives to adulthood too.
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Infographic showing two circles, one with a message and one with a picture of a softshell turtle suspended in the water, on white background. Message reads: Did you know? Some turtles don’t have hard shells. Softshell turtles have flat flexible, leathery shells. Some call them pancakes. But overcollection for food and traditional medicine has led to declines.
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Infographic showing two circles, one with a message and one with a picture of a painted turtle. Text reads: Painted turtles are some of the most common and widespread turtle species in North America. Unfortunately, it is difficult to track their expanding range due to widespread releases of pet turtles. Did you know? While painted turtles can lay clutches of 23 eggs at a time, they experience high rates of nest failure. It is estimated that only 8% of nests survive (Wilbur 1975).
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In the upper corner, a Blanding’s turtle. To the right of the image, text reads: ‘Because of their movement patterns, Blanding's turtles require larger landscapes than many other turtle species, and they are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation.’ More text is below reading: ‘Did you know?Blanding’s turtles are known for getting around! Individuals often move more than a mile over land in search of suitable vernal pool habitats for breeding and feeding.’
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An eastern box turtle. Besides turtle is text that reads: ‘Did you know? Seeds consumed by box turtles have a higher probability of germinating!The eastern box turtle is one of the primary seed dispersers for the spring-flowering mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum).’ Image of mayapple in lower right corner.
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In the bottom corner, a tortoise hatchling. Above and left of him, text reads: ‘Did you know? Gopher tortoises are ecosystem engineers and keystone species! This means their extinction would result in measurable changes to the ecosystem in which they’re found. Gopher tortoise burrows provide shelter for species like burrowing owls, gopher frogs and Indigo snakes.’
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Five ways to help turtles:  

At the top, large text reads: “5 ways to help turtles, Everyone can play a role in conserving turtles. You can help by minimizing disturbances to wild turtles, being a conscientious consumer, and reporting suspicious behavior. Here’s how:”, below this, 5 white circles contain text, each with a turtle graphic next to it. In order, the text reads: “One: Keep locations of wild turtles secret, especially online. If you want help identifying a turtle you saw, reach out to a local nature center or your state wildlife agency. Two: If it’s safe to do so, help turtles cross the road. Don’t ever move them to a different location. Three: Be a responsible turtle owner - bring unwanted pet turtles to a shelter. Don’t release them in the wild. They are unlikely to survive, and could transmit diseases to wild populations. Four: Be a good turtle neighbor. There may be things you can do on your land or in your community to support turtles, like creating a backyard habitat. Five: If you suspect someone is illegally collecting or selling wild turtles, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by phone (1–844-FWS-TIPS) or email (fws_tips@fws.gov)”
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Instagram Carousel:

At the top, large text on a colorful background reads: “5 ways to help turtles, Everyone can play a role in conserving turtles. You can help by minimizing disturbances to wild turtles, being a conscientious consumer, and reporting suspicious behavior. Below, a graphic of a turtle
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White text on a green background reads, ‘Keep locations of wild turtles secret, especially online. If you want help identifying a turtle you saw, reach out to a local nature center or your state wildlife agency.’ At the bottom left corner, a turtle hatchling is pictured, next to a small caption of ‘photo by Sam Stukel’.
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White text on a green background reads ‘Be a responsible turtle owner.Bring unwanted pet turtles to a shelter. Don’t release them in the wild. They are unlikely to survive, and could transmit diseases to wild populations.’ Below the text, a turtle that appears to be smiling sits
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White text on an ochre red background reads ‘Be a good turtle neighbor. There may be things you can do on your land or in your community to support turtles, like creating a backyard habitat.’ Above the text, a tortoise in a dry habitat is pictured, next to a small caption of ‘photo by Patrick Randall’.
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White text on a blue background reads ‘Be a good turtle neighbor. There may be things you can do on your land or in your community to support turtles, like creating a backyard habitat.If you suspect someone is illegally collecting or selling wild turtles, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at fws_tips@fws.gov’ To the left of the text, a turtle surrounded by clovers is pictured next to a small caption of ‘photo by Gary Peeples’.
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White text on an ochre red background reads ‘If it’s safe to do so,help turtles cross the road. Don’t ever move them to a different location.’ Behind the text, a close up of a turtle that appears to be smiling peeks out, next to a small caption of ‘photo by Patrick Randall’.
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Every Turtle Counts:

White text on teal background reads, ‘ Every Turtle Counts. Turtle populations can’t afford extra losses.’ Below this title text is orange and black text over white background reads: ‘It takes a long time.Turtles live for a long time. But it also takes turtles a long time – often 10 years or more – to reach reproductive age. . . If they make it at all. Bite-Size Snacks. Most hatchlings don’t survive their first few years.Many predators see baby turtles as tasty treats.Facing New Dangers. Road mortality has
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Every Turtle Counts Instagram Carousel: 

White text on teal background reads, ‘ Every Turtle Counts.” Below this text is a zoomed image of a snapping turtle, with a small caption of ‘Grayson Smith, USFWS’. Resting below image is text reading,’Turtle populations can’t afford extra losses. Swipe to find out why.” Lower corner sits the CCITT Logo.
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Image of box turtle with orange and black text over white background reading, ‘ Did You Know? Turtles live for a long time. But it also takes turtles a long time – often 10 years or more – to reach reproductive age. If they make it at all.’ On lower half of image, white text reads, ‘#Everyturtlecounts.’ CCITT Logo is placed in lower corner, next to a small caption of ‘Jeff Servoss, USFWS’
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Image of fox with text displaying,’‘#everyturtlecounts.’ Below this text is orange and black text over white background reading, ‘Did you know? Most hatchlings don’t survive their first few years.. Many predators see baby turtles as tasty treats.’ CCITT Logo is placed in lower corner, next to a small caption of ‘Lisa Hupp, USFWS’
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Image of bog turtle with text displaying,’‘#everyturtlecounts.’ Below this text is orange and black text over white background reading, ‘Did you know? Adult females often must reproduce for their entire lives to ensure just one hatchling makes it to reproductive age to help sustain the population.’ CCITT Logo is placed in lower corner, next to a small caption of ‘Gary Peeples, USFWS’
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Image of wood turtle with white text reading,’#everyturtlecounts.’ In lower right corner is orange and black text over a white background reading,’Did you know? Road mortality has been identified as a major threat to many turtle species. Sadly, many road fatalities are females looking to nest.’ CCITT logo is placed in lower corner, next to a small caption of ‘Grayson Smith, USFWS’
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White text over teal background reading, ‘Loss of adult turtles can have serious implications for their populations. When people take turtles out of the wild, they put entire populations at risk. #everyturtlecounts.’ This section is displayed over a scenic background of forest.
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Image of freshwater turtle with white text over teal background reading, ‘#Everyturtlecounts.’
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Story Tags

Aquatic environment
Biodiversity
Conservation
Harvest management
Ponds
Reptiles
Riparian areas
Rivers and streams
Road-stream crossings
Roads
Species of concern
Wetlands
Wildlife
Wildlife management
Wildlife refuges

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Endangered Species Act

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