Monday, July 9, 2018,

This is a young Eastern Box Turtle that I came across at Sweetbriar Nature center. He – (or she; I didn’t pick it up to check for gender) – is only half grown. Finding young turtles, or indeed any young animals, always lifts my heart. It’s a sign that, despite how crowded Long Island has become and our incessant encroachment on the few natural areas remaining, that life strives on. Make no mistake, this does not mean that Long Island’s natural wildlife is doing fine because that is far from the truth, but Mother Nature is doing her best to endure. Keep it up Mom. We need you to stay strong for we are so weak and destructive. JK