The Oregon babies are being held aside for more genetic study to confirm that they are indeed compatible. Eastern Washington turtles have also been kept at the zoo and have produced 12 hatchlings, which have all been released. Before release, all the young turtles are implanted with transponders or PIT tags for future identification if the filed notches are somehow destroyed. The greatest amount of keeper time is spent caring for the young turtles from the captive breeding and the wild nests. The building they are kept in is quarantined from all other reptiles at the zoo and the keepers do not work other reptile areas.
Veterinary assistance is available at all times.
You may be wondering how we are able to fund all this work. It is not easy and we do not always know from one year to the next if we will be able to continue doing everything at once. A successful project will produce more contributors. The first budget came from the Washington Department of Wildlife Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account, which specifically supports the work of volunteers and we continue to receive these funds. Volunteers receive compensation for their mileage to the turtle ponds.