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Programs such as this are called
“head start” programs for an obvious
reason: the young animals are given a
head start against whatever perils they
may face in their natural environment.

In addition to Blanding’s turtles,
Brookfield Zoo has also head started
ornate box turtles for a U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service project. In other
turtle news, Snider hopes to soon
see the first hatchlings from a small
population of musk turtles that the
reptile department has set up in a
greenhouse facility behind The Swamp.
This head start program—conducted
in partnership with the Forest Preserves
of Cook County—is also a breeding

Left: Young Blanding’s turtles are retrieved from a
“head start” pen on Brookfield Zoo’s grounds. Below:
Biologist Dan Thompson from the Forest Preserve
District of DuPage County and his helpers collect turtles.

The Chicago Zoological Society is breeding musk turtles
(top) for release in local restored wetlands. Five-lined
skinks and massasauga rattlesnakes may also get help
from Society conservationists in the future.

project. The idea is that we provide and massasauga rattlesnakes, two species
hatchlings bred here as Cook County that have become increasingly rare in the
biologists restore wetlands and then Chicago area. In fact, Brookfield Zoo is
release the turtles into these reestablished already the home of six adult massasauga
habitats. Musk turtles are threatened rattlesnakes that we will eventually try
locally due to habitat loss, including the to breed. If a release is ever needed, we
degradation and draining of wetlands. hope to be involved with that as well.

In coming years, we may adopt
similar programs for five-lined skinks

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