NH Turtle Rescue

09/29/2026

Dallas and Drew were interviewed by Wayne from the Warden's Watch podcast about Oka and the recent incidents in Hillsborough.

It's now available wherever you listen to podcasts – check it out!

In this episode of Warden’s Watch, Wayne follows up on the disturbing New Hampshire turtle cruelty case by sitting down with Dallas Huggins and Drew Stevens of the New Hampshire Turtle Rescue. They…

09/27/2026

Last week marked the beginning of fall, and wild turtles have begun making their ways back to their overwintering wetlands to brumate – a turtle’s version of hibernation.

The cooler weather also means that our resident ambassadors that have been in their outdoor enclosures during the spring and summer need to come inside until it gets warm again next year.

We are very pleased to have been able to upgrade our box turtle ambassadors’ indoor enclosures this year thanks to grant funding. We are constantly brainstorming and devising ways to improve the habitats for our resident ambassadors as well as our patients in order to reduce stress and help them to thrive.

These enclosures are outfitted with optimized basking areas, UV and full-spectrum LED lighting, and environmental monitoring of temperature and humidity levels to ensure proper thermal gradients and habitat conditions. Fans provide airflow and ventilation, while a custom misting system makes sure things don’t get too dry.

Each enclosure is also bioactive and planted with live native flora that mimics their natural habitat. Earthworms, springtails, and other invertebrates help to keep things clean while also providing enrichment and nourishment for the inhabitants – our box turtles REALLY enjoy hunting earthworms!

The best part of this system is that it is almost entirely automated: the lights are programmed to emulate sunrise and sunset; the misting system activates if the humidity drops, and the basking lamps and fans adjust themselves to maintain optimal basking zones and cool zones. The only regular maintenance we have to do is change out their water trays and feed them.

By automating and remotely monitoring our setups, we free up time that we can dedicate to patient care. At over 525 patients so far this year, every bit of extra time that we can reclaim matters!

09/19/2026

TODAY, Saturday, September 19th, we will be at Spring Hill Farm in Chester for the 8th annual Fall Festival from 10am-4pm. We hope you'll come visit us!

📍 96 Towle Rd. Chester, NH
📅 Saturday, September 19th
⏰ 10am to 4pm

09/16/2026

An article from InDepthNH about our effort to increase turtle protections in NH.

Head to our website to find out more about Oka's Rule, and how you can voice your support for the petition to NH Fish and Game – you can find the link in the comments.

That’s why New Hampshire Turtle Rescue President Drew Stevens is pushing for greater legal protection for all of the state’s native turtle species.

09/12/2026

Check out this great video featuring one of our favorite native turtle species! 🐢💚

09/07/2026

UPDATE: Turtle heroes Erin and Angie are making it happen! Thank you to everyone who shared this to increase visibility! 🐢💚

‼️ URGENT NEED ‼️

We are dealing with an injured turtle situation right now up in Jefferson, NH. We have limited support from our Turtle Transport Network up that far north. Is anyone able to help with at least a partial transport to us in Nottingham? We have someone able to meet halfway, but looking for any help getting the turtle from Jefferson to a bit further south. Thank you!

09/05/2026

It’s officially ✨hatchling season ✨ right now!

We’ve been getting lots of calls from people finding hatchlings in all sorts of places and wondering what they should do with them.

If you find a hatchling in a risky place (crossing a road, in your swimming pool, your lawn that you’re about to mow, etc.) then move it to safety in the direction it was headed, if possible. Hatchlings may look rough when they first emerge from their nests, but they’ve got incredibly keen instincts to help them get to where they need to go.

Don’t relocate hatchlings that you encounter! It is incredibly difficult to tell hatchlings apart, and each species has its own unique habitat requirements. Placing a hatchling in the wrong place could end up doing more harm than good.

Concerned or unsure what the best thing to do would be? Give us a call or text – we’re happy to identify the species and offer guidance!

Make sure to pay extra attention to the road when driving as well; hatchlings are very small and difficult to see, and a lot of them blend in with the road really well.

And, as always, never pick up a hatchling and take it home! If you think it may need help, get in touch with us and we can assess the situation.

A little bit of assistance can go a long way towards helping our little turtles make it longterm! 🐢💚

09/03/2026

🚨TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR TURTLES FROM CRUELTY🚨

Under current NH Fish & Game rules, it is completely legal to capture non-listed turtle species (e.g., painted turtles) by hand or by net outside of the protected nesting season (May 15 - July 15) and then do whatever you want with them.

You may have read our recent post about Oka, the painted turtle that was taken while nesting and stomped on by Charles Puccio in addition to many other turtles he killed on Bog Road in Hillsborough.

Did you know that if he had picked up Oka anytime before May 15th or after July 15th, he would have been able to stomp her to death with total impunity? It would be completely legal for him to kill up to two painted turtles per day, as long as he physically picks them up first.

This is a huge gap in the protections afforded to our native turtle species, and it needs to change.

Since the story about Oka broke, we have been surprised by the amount of attention it has received, and very encouraged about the outpouring of public support and desire to better protect turtles in New Hampshire.

We know people want change, and we have been diligently working on a solution to meet that demand.

On September 1st, Drew and Dallas submitted “Oka’s Rule”, a petition to NH Fish & Game under RSA 541-A:4 and Fis 214.01 to initiate rulemaking proceedings to amend the Fish & Game rules to close the gap in protections for non-listed native turtle species.

Turtles are extremely long lived compared to other wildlife and take a very long time to reach reproductive age. The stability of their populations is heavily reliant on adults remaining in the wild long-term. Allowing the “take” of these species has far reaching impacts.

To read the entire petition and the statement of reasons supporting the petitions, go to the link in the comments below.

Now, it’s your turn to let NH Fish & Game know that you support stronger protections for our native turtles!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

- Reach out to NHFG’s Executive Director at [email protected]
- Let them know you support the petition for “Oka’s Rule”
- Share this post and ask your friends to lend their support as well

Together, we can make a meaningful change to protect turtles in the Granite State! 💚🐢

08/28/2026

Here’s some uplifting and positive turtle content!

This is Staazer, an Eastern Painted Turtle from Chichester who was hit by a car in late June. She suffered damage to the front of her carapace (top shell) as well as her bridge (the part connecting the top and bottom shell).

Turtle hero Lisa found Staazer and brought her to our clinic in Nottingham immediately to receive emergency care.

Thankfully, we were able to put Staazer back together, and she healed splendidly!

Her rehabilitation was a success, and she was able to go back to her home wetlands in early August to continue living her wild life.

Please join us in wishing Staazer a wonderful and car-free future! 🐢💚

08/28/2026

More info about the suspended fine for the man caught intentionally killing turtles on Bog Road in Hillsborough.

Charles Puccio won't face any punishment aside from having a criminal misdemeanor on his record, as long as he isn't caught breaking the law in the next year.

Do you think this penalty matches the offense?