There's a heartening sight in Brenman Park: the return of our beloved turtles to the pond. We are happy to report that not only were they not harmed over the winter, but they have returned in droves.
In Native American culture, the turtle is a very important symbol – it represents Mother earth and is a sign of good health and long life. With all the challenges we face in the world today, they are just what we need!
Originally shared in The Compass back in 2016, this article revisits the curiosity surrounding our shelled friends' winter whereabouts and their remarkable survival strategies. Explore the fascinating journey of these aquatic inhabitants who endure the cold months and emerge, much like us, eager for the warmth and renewal of spring.
The Turtles Are Back!
By Pat Sugrue
Turtles sunning in Ben Brenman Park
One sure sign of spring is the turtles returning to Brenman Park pond. The unseasonably warm weather in March brought them back early this year; and you can see dozens of them gathered around “Turtle Bridge,” along with tadpoles, Koi, and lots and lots of other fish whose names I wish I knew. The turtles swim in the pond, sun themselves on the banks, float in the marshy weeds…but where did they come from? Where have they been all winter?
According to the kids’ page of the website turtlepuddle.org, most water turtles that live in areas with cold winter weather go deep into the pond and burrow down into the mud and leaves at the bottom. They let themselves get cold, which slows down their bodies so they don’t need to eat anymore. Their hearts slow down, too, and beat only once every few minutes. And they stop breathing through their lungs – because their bodies are running at such a slow speed, they only need a small amount of oxygen, which they can get from the water. The oxygen sinks in through some specialized skin cells that are just inside the tail opening, so they are actually breathing through their tails! Water turtles stay like this as long as the weather is cold.
So the next time you are crossing the bridges in Ben Brenman Park or walking around the pond and you hear someone ask where the turtles were all winter – and there always seem to be folks pondering that question – you can tell them they have been here the entire time. And along with many of us Cameron Station residents, they’ve just been waiting for the seasons to change to come out of their burrows.
Pat Sugrue is an original owner, moving to Cameron Station with her husband Tom in the fall of 1999. She was a member of the first Compass Crew, and later served as Editor-in-Chief for nine years. Pat’s professional career was in advertising – 30+ years in ad agencies in every department except art (no talent at all!); but her favorite position was copywriter, which she felt made a good fit for The Compass. She warns that she is here to stay, regardless of the format!
This article was originally published on page 23 of the May/June 2016 edition of The Compass. To view more of The Compass archive, click here.
Interested in contributing to The Compass? Contact the editor at thecompass@cameronstation.org or reach out to the Communications Committee at communications@cameronstation.org.
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