Turtleback Farm

04/11/2026

04/10/2026

Three Southold waterways — Jockey Creek, Town Creek and Goose Creek — are closed to shellfishing due to elevated marine biotoxins risk, a recurring spring condition that can cause serious illness if contaminated seafood is consumed.

Read more https://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2026/04/three-southold-creeks-closed-to-harvesting-over-marine-biotoxins/

04/05/2026

A disturbing call we get every year is "do you take orphan skunks/raccoons?" We ask how they know it is an orphan and we get the answer, "because we killed the mom". Currently, our district of Oregon Fish and Wildlife (the Klamath Watershed) does not allow us to rehab skunks or raccoons due to disease and overpopulation. So that means we cannot intake these orphans that people are creating. IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE NUISANCE WILDLIFE under your deck, in your attic, etc. they are going to have babies this time of year. Unless you want dead babies on your hands it is not the time to call in a trapper or take it upon yourself to remove adults. If you absolutely must evict immediately you need to try exclusion methods first. Temporary bright lights shining in and loud music or talk radio playing next to a den can often cause your nuisance animal to move the kids to a new site after a few days. You can also spread cayenne pepper generously in areas where the animal has been seen coming and going, such as a hole leading under the house or around trees that give the animal access to the attic. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and do not inhale the dust. Wild animals cannot tolerate the presence of pepper and will vacate the area. Note that pets and children should not have access to the pepper! Then it is on YOU to make sure the area has been vacated. Once these techniques are used for several days, tape a piece of newspaper over the hole. If it is not disturbed for several more days, then cover the hole securely. This way an animal will not be trapped in the attic or under the house. THEN seal up the entry(s) to avoid a new tenant taking up residence. Trust us....they will if you don't!

04/05/2026

The annual return of alewives (river herring) to Long Island in late March/early April to spawn in freshwater streams was vital to the local economies. Huge quantities of the fish were harvested using seine nets, and they were a welcome source of protein and fat after the long winter. They were also smoked for future use and employed as fertilizer for crops. Visit us to learn more! The museum is closed on Easter Sunday, but just email us to arrange a visit during the week: [email protected].

04/05/2026

03/31/2026

03/24/2026

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Return of the Osprey Event near and far! From marine debris clean ups to Osprey platform repair, our community really knows how to rise to the occasion to celebrate this iconic species across the North Fork. Big kudos to Jason for being “Mr. Osprey!”