The Kentuckiana Scaletuary

10/31/2026

✨PSA✨

One of our favorite parts of wildlife rehabilitation is collaborating with incredible organizations and professionals who support one another, share knowledge, and work together to improve outcomes for the animals in our care.

We value education, collaboration, respectful discussion, and the continued exchange of knowledge. We believe education is essential to wildlife rehabilitation, and we welcome opportunities to learn, ask questions, share resources, and become better advocates for the animals who depend on us.

However, collaboration requires mutual respect, and professional boundaries deserve to be respected.

There is a difference between gatekeeping and being a responsible rehabilitator.

We will not publish step-by-step medical procedures, treatment protocols, or instructions that could encourage untrained individuals to attempt potentially dangerous interventions on wildlife at home. When an animal requires veterinary care, encouraging appropriate professional treatment is part of responsible animal welfare.

‼️There are also professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities involved in providing medical care and discussing treatment options. Sharing medical advice or treatment recommendations without appropriate qualifications, oversight, or consideration of the individual animal’s needs can have serious consequences. The priority must always be the animal’s safety, not the desire to share every detail publicly‼️

We have every right to protect our peace and the integrity of our organization by moderating our page, blocking individuals, and choosing not to engage in endless arguments after our boundaries have been communicated.
Our time and energy are dedicated to animal welfare, patient care, and responsible rehabilitation. We will not allow social media arguments to distract us from that work.

We will continue educating the public and supporting responsible knowledge-sharing within the rehabilitation community. But we will not compromise patient welfare, professional responsibility, or appropriate medical practice to satisfy public curiosity.

You do not have to agree with our boundaries. You are entitled to your own opinions, approaches, and professional discussions. However, you are not entitled to unrestricted access to our platform, our cases, or our time.

Respectful disagreement is one thing. Disrespecting boundaries, repeatedly provoking arguments, throwing insults, or directing harassment toward our organization is another.
We will not entertain it.

We know what we stand for, and we will continue doing the work that matters. Our focus remains where it has always belonged: on the animals who need us

Thank you for your understanding 💛

10/31/2026

A huge thank you to the Scottsburg community for welcoming us to the square tonight for Trick-or-Treat! 🎃🐢

We loved meeting so many fellow turtle lovers, connecting with people who know how important it is to protect our native turtles, and sharing a little turtle education along the way!

It was wonderful to be part of such a great community event alongside so many amazing local businesses and organizations. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and helping us celebrate Halloween with the Scottsburg community!

10/30/2026

We will be at the Scottsburg Town Square for trick or treating tonight from 6-8!
Be sure to stop by!

10/29/2026

Time to reveal the answers to yesterday’s turtle identification challenge!

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

BOTH TURTLES ARE RED-EARED SLIDERS!

Surprised? The darker turtle is an older male, and the difference in their appearance is a great example of a phenomenon called melanism.

As some male red-eared sliders age, their pigmentation can darken significantly. Their familiar yellow and green markings may become muted or nearly disappear, leaving them looking almost entirely brown or black.

Meanwhile, younger males often retain the brighter colors and distinct markings that make red-eared sliders so recognizable.

Think about humans as we age. We develop wrinkles, freckles, under-eye circles, eye bags, and other changes in our appearance. We don’t look exactly the same at 20 as we do at 50! (& if you do, what’s your secret? 🤔)

It’s a great reminder that identifying wildlife isn’t always as easy as it looks! Sometimes, knowing what to look for makes all the difference.

So, who guessed correctly?

10/28/2026

🐢 TURTLE IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE! 🐢

Let’s see how good your turtle ID skills really are!

Take a look at these two turtles.
What species do you think each turtle is?

Drop your guesses in the comments!

We’ll reveal the answers later. No Googling allowed!

10/28/2026

Imagine getting invited to a Turtle Soup event?!

Crossroads Christian Church keeps a piece of local history alive with its annual historical event. While turtle soup may have once been a staple of the tradition, this year, chili filled the cauldron, and turtles took center stage outdoors for education and conservation!

We spent a couple of hours educating church members and community visitors about the importance of turtles, terrapins, and tortoises, their roles in their ecosystems, and the challenges they face. We also explored the history of turtle soup, including which species were traditionally used and why.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to turn a historical tradition into a chance to learn about and appreciate these incredible animals!

If you’d like us to come out to your event, email us at [email protected]

10/27/2026

🚨 A PSA to the do**he canoes who purposely hit turtles crossing the road🚨

If you’re gonna do that can you at least do us a favor and don’t hit them in the face. Preferably the lower back of the shell would be ideal. We can fix that. K, thx.

We received a native musk turtle whose shell was in perfect condition! What was the problem? She was hit in the face causing irreversible damage.
So we had to say goodbye.

As wildlife rehabilitators, saving an animal means also helping them pass peacefully & with dignity.

So please watch for turtles crossing the road. Slow down when it’s safe, give them space, and remember to not purposely hit them.

10/27/2026

Everytime we pass an inspection, we do the victory plank! This time is no different!

Indiana DNR conducted an inspection at the Scaletuary, and we’re happy to share that we passed! (Are we that surprised though?)

There has been a lot happening behind the scenes lately, & it feels really good to be recognized as a reputable & credible organization. With the support of the community, we were able to upgrade the entire turtle room space, expanding the amount of intakes we can house, & purchased everyone brand new uvbs, which of course are still stuck in the mail.

This isn’t just something we randomly decided to get into, we’ve been working on this since 2003. We take this personal. We work hard to provide appropriate care, maintain compliance with applicable regulations, cooperate with wildlife officials, and advocate for the animals who need us.
We hold ourselves to a high standard & we welcome accountability because we thrive on showing how it’s done!

Thank you to IN DNR & KY F&W for your continuous support & believing in our mission!

10/27/2026

🐢👕 NEW MERCH ALERT!
SHOP WITH A PURPOSE!👚💚

You can now rep The Kentuckiana Scaletuary in style! 🌿

Our merchandise shop is officially open, featuring turtle-inspired designs that represent what we do best: rescuing, rehabilitating, and advocating for the reptiles who need us most.

🐢 Fixin’ the Forgotten: For the turtles who deserve a second chance.

🩹 You Break ’Em, We Fix ’Em: A little humor with a whole lot of heart.

🐾 Muddy Claws, ZERO Flaws: Because muddy is a lifestyle, not a flaw!

Shirts are $20 each, with sizes XS–XL available.
Shipping & local pickup are available!

Every purchase is a chance to show your support for our mission and help spread the word about turtle and reptile conservation. Whether you’re a turtle enthusiast, a fellow rehabber, or just someone who appreciates a good turtle shirt, there’s something for you!

🛍️ SHOP The Kentuckiana Scaletuary MERCH STORE HERE: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-kentuckiana-scaletuarys-merchandise-shop

💚 Wear your support. Share our mission. Help us fix the forgotten.

Thank you for being part of our shell squad! 🐢🌿

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-kentuckiana-scaletuarys-merchandise-shop

Welcome to The Kentuckiana Scaletuary’s Merchandise Shop. Each item you purchase supports medical care, rehabilitation, and safe housing for native and exotic…

10/26/2026

When Lawn & Order arrived at the Scaletuary a few days ago, he had sustained devastating injuries after being struck by a lawn mower. We knew he had a difficult road ahead, but we wanted to give him a chance to recover.

Turtles are remarkably resilient animals, and we believed he deserved the opportunity to receive care and see whether recovery was possible. We weren’t willing to assume there was no chance.

So we tried.

We monitored his condition and hoped he would turn a corner. When it became clear that he wasn’t improving and that recovery wasn’t going to happen, we made the decision to let him go peacefully.

Giving an animal a chance doesn’t mean refusing to recognize when that chance is gone. It means being willing to try, to reassess, and ultimately to make the decision that prevents further suffering. Most places don’t bother trying, but we do.

We wish his story had ended differently. We wish he could have recovered, returned to exploring the, and lived the life he deserved.

But his story doesn’t have to end without a purpose.

Lawn mower injuries are a devastating and often preventable danger to wildlife. Turtles hide in grass, leaves, and vegetation, often completely unnoticed until it’s too late. Please take a few minutes to walk your yard and check for wildlife before mowing. That small act could save a life.

We couldn’t save Lawn & Order, but we can use his story to help protect the next turtle.

Rest peacefully, little guy. You were given a chance, you were cared for, and you mattered. Even if your time with us was short, you were worth trying for 💚