06/15/2026
Last month, one of our turtle residents graduated from the Nature Center and headed back to Appalachian Wildlife Refuge for release into the wild.
For the past few years, the WNC Nature Center has partnered with Appalachian Wildlife Refuge to help "head-start" young box turtles and snapping turtles. When rescued hatchlings are too small to survive on their own, our animal care team gives them a safe place to grow during their most vulnerable early years.
We care for these turtles from just a few months old until they're about two years old. Once they're big enough to have a better chance in the wild, they return to Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, which releases them as close as possible to where they were originally found.
Our latest graduate, "Snapper E," recently made that journey. And while we'll miss the little snapper, we're happy knowing that another turtle is getting a second chance in the wild.
https://www.facebook.com/AppWild
