We seem to have set a record today for the most yellow-bellied sliders ever seen at one time at Sandy Run Park in Kitty Hawk. It’s an unofficial record, of course. To the best of our knowledge no one has ever taken the time to do an official turtle count, but goodness gracious, there were a lot of them today.
Mixed in with the yellow bellied sliders were a couple of snapping turtles—one of them was very big. But they were all getting along pretty well, which makes sense. Snapping turtles, in spite of their reputation and appearance, are actually not an aggressive species at all. Of course, you wouldn’t want to dangle your fingers in front of them, but they really are not known for taking the initiative and attacking.
it is entirely possible that one of the reasons for the surge in turtle population is the sign along the walkway advising people that bread is very bad for turtles…can, in fact kill them. What the town has done is list alternative foods for the turtles—lettuce and greens, that type of food.
With that knowledge in hand, more people than ever are stopping by to feed the turtles; it’s an almost surreal experience to stop along the railing above the water where the turtles seem to gather. Little heads start slowly, but inexorably, toward the walkway, until in short order there are 20 or 30 turtles gathered together waiting for a lettuce leaf to fall.
Turtles are not the only attraction that brings people to Sandy Run Park. It’s a catch and release fishing site, and the other day, evidence of just how many fish were in the waters come in the form of splashing water in leaping fish in what was probably spawning activity.
It is a fascinating and beautiful little park, worth a visit any time of the year.
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