Berkshire County Turtle Rescue Inc., Pittsfield, MA (2026)

10/07/2026

Willa Update: X-Ray Results Are In 🩺🐢

Willa made her trip for X-rays today, and we finally have a clearer picture of what she’s up against.

The imaging revealed significant skeletal trauma to her upper body:
• Left side: A broken clavicle and a broken humerus
• Right side: A broken scapula

Given the severe shell damage she took, it’s incredible that she is as tough and bright as she is. Having fractures in both shoulders and her front left leg means she has a long, slow road of orthopedic healing ahead, but knowing exactly what’s fractured allows us to tailor her management and recovery plan precisely.

She survived the drop-off and imaging well and is back home resting comfortably, staying on her pain management, fluid therapy, and antibiotic regimen.

Willa has proven to be a absolute warrior from day one. Please keep sending all your good thoughts and healing energy her way as we tackle this next phase of her recovery! 💚✨

We are starting to run low in funds and could use some donations! If you'd like to donate to our nonprofit organization click our website link below! 👇

https://berkshirecountyturtlerescue.org/donations/1955/

10/05/2026

Willa Update!

Willa is still in critical condition, but she is continuing to fight and hold her ground!

Her routine currently consists of daily pain medication, subcutaneous fluids to keep her hydrated, antibiotics and regular bandage changes. She even enjoyed taking a little drink this morning to help clear her throat, which was wonderful to see.

The most encouraging news today? I'm starting to see a tiny bit of movement returning to her left arm, which was completely limp on day one. While I'm still very guarded about her long-term prognosis for that leg—and her overall recovery given how severe her injuries are—seeing that slight spark of mobility gives me a real reason to hope.

For now, my priority is keeping her comfortable, quiet, and stable as her body adjusts to treatment. Once she’s settled in a bit more and past these crucial first several days, we’ll be taking her in for X-rays to check her shoulder and internal structures.

She is an absolute sweetheart, and every small step forward is a victory right now.

Thank you all for rooting for this precious girl—we’ll keep you posted as she continues to heal! 💚✨

10/03/2026

Meet Willa,

At 402 grams, this tough adult female Eastern painted turtle came to us after a devastating encounter with a vehicle. She suffered severe upper carapace fractures, double bridge fractures, a plastron fracture, a ruptured coelomic membrane, and head trauma.

Her initial shell repair took an intensive hour and a half to stabilize. She’s currently resting comfortably with pain medication, subcutaneous fluids to stay hydrated, and two targeted antibiotics to keep infection at bay given the extent of her internal exposure.

We’re also keeping a close eye on her front limbs—her left arm is currently limp, and while she’s using her right arm decently, we suspect a potential shoulder injury. She’ll be getting X-rays soon so we can get a clear picture of what’s going on structurally under the surface.

Her name, Willa, means resolute protector—a fitting title for a girl who has a long road of recovery ahead, but has already shown incredible determination.

We’ll keep everyone updated as we get her X-ray results and watch her progress over the coming days. Please send your strongest healing thoughts Willa’s way! 💚✨

10/03/2026

Teddy Update: On the Road to Recovery! 🐢💚

Earlier this week, I took in Teddy, a common snapping turtle who was hit by a vehicle this past week. Upon intake, I noted carapace fractures and observed that he was favoring his back right leg—holding it up off the ground.

To find out what was going on beneath the surface, I brought Teddy to see Dr. Jordan at South Street Veterinary Clinic for X-rays. The scans confirmed: a dislocated hip!

Thankfully, Dr. Jordan was able to successfully realign the joint and put Teddy’s hip back into place. We initially had his leg wrapped to keep it immobilized, but Teddy—being the spirited snapper that he is—decided he had other plans and promptly worked his way out of it the following day.

Because he’s so active and feeling so much better, rewrapping isn't easy, but he is currently taking it easy and resting like a champion in his hospital bin.

Teddy will be spending the winter with me to continue healing up so he’ll be 100% ready for release back into the wild next year.

Thank you to Dr. Jordan and the team at South Street Vet for helping us give Teddy a second chance! Please keep Teddy in your thoughts as he continues his long recovery. 🐢💚

10/02/2026

Teddy Update: On the Road to Recovery! 🐢💚

Earlier this week, I took in Teddy, a common snapping turtle who was hit by a vehicle this past week. Upon intake, I noted carapace fractures and observed that he was favoring his back right leg—holding it up off the ground.

To find out what was going on beneath the surface, I brought Teddy to see Dr. Jordan at South Street Veterinary Clinic for X-rays. The scans confirmed: a dislocated hip!

Thankfully, Dr. Jordan was able to successfully realign the joint and put Teddy’s hip back into place. We initially had his leg wrapped to keep it immobilized, but Teddy—being the spirited snapper that he is—decided he had other plans and promptly worked his way out of it the following day.

Because he’s so active and feeling so much better, rewrapping isn't easy, but he is currently taking it easy and resting like a champion in his hospital bin.

Teddy will be spending the winter with me to continue healing up so he’ll be 100% ready for release back into the wild next year.

Thank you to Dr. Jordan and the team at South Street Vet for helping us give Teddy a second chance! Please keep Teddy in your thoughts as he continues his long recovery. 🐢💚

09/29/2026

Update on Faye the American Toad 💔

I’m sad to share that Faye passed away last night. It’s likely that the garter snake’s venom—which contains toxins that slowly paralyze small prey and help deflate toads when they puff up to defend themselves—ultimately took its toll on her body.

(For those wondering: garter snake venom is essentially harmless to humans, outside of rare allergic reactions, but it is effective against small creatures like toads and frogs.)

This is a tough outcome, but it serves as an important reminder of why we advise against intervening when a predator is hunting or eating. Both animals play a crucial role in our ecosystem. For snakes—especially right now as temperatures drop and they prepare for brumation—every single meal counts. Going without a meal this late in the season makes it much harder for them to survive the winter. When we intervene, the prey animal may not survive anyway, and the predator is left hungry.

On that note, I want to address the comments on the previous post regarding the finder, Peggy, who reached out after saving Faye.

Peggy has a big, kind heart. Watching a natural predator-prey interaction can be incredibly difficult to witness, and her reaction came purely from a place of compassion. Peggy and I had a wonderful, respectful conversation about why we let nature take its course, and she learned a lot from the experience.

What I will not tolerate on this page, however, is the rudeness directed toward her in the comments. Shaming or attacking someone who acted out of kindness is completely unacceptable. Moving forward, anyone leaving rude or abusive comments will be blocked. This page is a space for education and empathy, not hostility.

To everyone who stepped in to support Peggy and keep the discussion respectful and kind: thank you. Your kindness makes this community what it is, and the world could certainly use more people like you.

Rest easy, little Faye. 🐸💚

09/28/2026

Meet Teddy: Why You Should Never "Straddle" a Turtle on the Road 🐢💔

Please welcome Teddy, a massive 19.2-pound male common snapping turtle who recently came into our care after a devastating encounter with a motor vehicle.

Teddy was the victim of being straddled by a car. For those unfamiliar, "straddled" means a driver tried to drive over him by centering the turtle between their vehicle's tires, likely assuming there was enough clearance underneath.
Car undercarriages are lower than you think, and the impact can be catastrophic. In Teddy's case:

Severe Shell Damage: The undercarriage ripped away a large section of his carapace (shell).

Subduction: It also caused a section of his shell to "subduct"—meaning the force drove a portion of the bone downward and pressed it underneath the surrounding shell structure.

Road Rash & Limb Trauma: Teddy was dragged a short distance, leaving him with road rash, and he is currently favoring his back right leg.

We are starting him on pain medications immediately and keeping a close eye on that rear leg. We’re hopeful it’s just severely bruised and sore; if he isn't using it in a few days once the pain meds kick in, he’ll head in for an X-ray to rule out a fracture.
A Crucial Autumn Reminder:

Even though it's cold, wet, and rainy out, turtles are still actively moving across roads to reach their winter wetlands!
Please do not straddle a turtle. If you see a turtle in the road, either safely pull over and help them cross in the direction they are heading, or gently slow down and change lanes to steer completely clear of them. Passing over them causes horrific, deeply painful injuries.

Because shell bone takes a remarkably long time to regrow and heal, Teddy will be spending the winter here with us in rehabilitation. We’ll be keeping him safe, warm, and comfortable on his long road to recovery.

Welcome to the family, Teddy! We’ve got you. ❤️

Graphic content warning: I’ll share a photo of Teddy's shell injury down in the comments for those following his clinical recovery.

09/27/2026

Ever wonder what happens around here when I'm not knee-deep in turtle shell repairs and wildlife intakes? 🌿✨

When I’m not caring for our patient caseload, I’ve been quietly pouring my heart into a massive summer passion project: building an immersive "Bioluminescent Celtic Fairy Glen" installation for the Harvest Run competition, put in by the company I work for, Integritus Healthcare, and representing the nursing home I work at Mt. Greylock Extended Care Facility!

After months of helping my residents and staff to sculpting clay, shaping giant hand-crafted crepe paper blooms, weaving vines, and working with glowing resin, the results are in…

🏆 1ST PLACE OVERALL!
🏆 PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD!

Rehabilitation is full-time heart work, and taking a little time to create art that brings magic to our community keeps my spirit recharged for the long hours at the rescue. I wanted to share a slice of what’s been keeping my hands busy alongside our wildlife patients this season.

Thank you all for supporting every side of the work I do—whether it’s cheering on a turtle release or celebrating a creative milestone! 🐢💚✨

09/26/2026

Meet Faye—and a gentle reminder on letting nature take its course 💚

Faye recently came to us after a well-meaning Samaritan spotted her in the mouth of a snake and intervened, pulling her out to "save" her. She suffered a couple of puncture wounds—one to her leg and one to her stomach—and while she is a tough little toad, she’s got some healing to do.

Her story is a great moment to talk about a tough reality in wildlife rehabilitation: intervening when a predator is hunting or eating.

Watching a predator capture or eat another living creature can be really hard to witness. Our instinct is almost always to jump in and protect the prey. But predators—including snakes—are just as vital to our local ecosystems as the animals they eat. They aren't being cruel; they are simply trying to survive and feed themselves.

When we take food away from a predator, we:
Deny that animal a critical meal it worked hard to catch (and snakes don't get to eat every day!).

Risk injuring either the predator, the prey, or ourselves during the struggle.

Often leave the prey animal with puncture wounds or internal injuries from teeth/fangs that require medical care anyway.

As hard as it is to watch, nature operates on a balance, and predation is a healthy, necessary part of the ecosystem.

Faye is currently settled in, receiving wound care, and resting up. We’re rooting for her recovery, but we hope her story serves as a reminder to appreciate nature in all its forms—even the parts that are difficult to see.

09/24/2026

Meet Pico,

This brave little male Eastern Painted turtle was found over in the Petco parking lot plaza in Pittsfield yesterday evening, probably leaving the river looking for a deeper pond to brumate in for the winter.

He was struck by a vehicle and sustained double bridge fractures and took a pretty hard knock to the head, but he is one tough little guy!

He’s currently resting after getting pain medication, antibiotics and fluids. He’s pretty alert which is a good sign, he does have a swollen eye from the head trauma and I'm hopeful that the swelling will go down soon.

Please keep this sweet guy in your thoughts as he starts his road to recovery 🐢💚

Berkshire County Turtle Rescue Inc.

10/07/2026

10/05/2026

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

10/02/2026

09/29/2026

09/28/2026

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09/26/2026

09/24/2026

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