Conservation efforts give hope to bog turtles after Hurricane Helene

Appalachia: Conservation teams are rallying to protect the Southern bog turtle, North America’s tiniest turtle, following damage from Hurricane Helene in the Southern Appalachians.

Groups including ARC, The Nature Conservancy, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are restoring wetlands with caged nests, predator fences, and “head start” programs for hatchlings. New satellite and lidar mapping is also helping locate and rebuild additional bogs.

With fewer than 2,000 Southern bog turtles left, experts say the post-storm push is creating healthier, “turtle-friendly” habitats and offering the species its best chance to rebound.