Turtle Express
[Why did the turtle cross the road? From April through June, turtles cross busy Riverport Road in T.O. Fuller State Park to lay eggs. To cut down on traffic casualties and better monitor turtle activity, park manager Markee Tate has asked volunteers to join the Turtle Patrol and carry reptiles across the highway.]
The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks
Which practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
In such a fix to be so fertile.
--Ogden Nash
------------------------
It's odd to be enshrined in verse
But Memphis turtles have it worse
Than being in ol' Ogden's rhyme --
They sometimes just run out of time.
It happens at a nice state park
Where pregnant turtles do embark
To find the finest place around
And lay their eggs on higher ground.
But Fuller Park (that's the facility
Where turtles work up such fertility)
Has a busy four-lane road
Where semis pull a massive load.
And when those turtles try to cross
Some end up little more than sauce.
So Markee Tate, who runs the place
Asked volunteers to take the case.
From April through the end of June
Those turtles have a kind platoon
Of humans who will gladly carry
Reptiles on a birthing ferry.
Jan Castillo's one of several
Who bike the road - and at some peril
From traffic, yes, but often 'cause
Some turtles love to use their jaws.
Jan said one skating volunteer
Was chased -- though she was quite sincere --
By a snapper feeling hinky
Hoping to take home a pinky.
Ronnie Douglas, a park ranger,
Says there's even further danger
In the form of salmonella
Common to the wetlands dwella.
But the park is taking care
To offer stylish turtle-wear.
So gloves are offered the civilian
Who does enjoy all things reptilian.
Truckers driving Riverport Road
Also hail the noble code:
Jan said one stopped on his way through
Saying: "I've got three turtles for you."
Red-eared slider, river cooter
Some are ugly, some are cuter.
But these turtles, not too swift
Still can get a helpful lift.
The Commercial Appeal, Thursday, June 23, 2005
The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks
Which practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
In such a fix to be so fertile.
--Ogden Nash
------------------------
It's odd to be enshrined in verse
But Memphis turtles have it worse
Than being in ol' Ogden's rhyme --
They sometimes just run out of time.
It happens at a nice state park
Where pregnant turtles do embark
To find the finest place around
And lay their eggs on higher ground.
But Fuller Park (that's the facility
Where turtles work up such fertility)
Has a busy four-lane road
Where semis pull a massive load.
And when those turtles try to cross
Some end up little more than sauce.
So Markee Tate, who runs the place
Asked volunteers to take the case.
From April through the end of June
Those turtles have a kind platoon
Of humans who will gladly carry
Reptiles on a birthing ferry.
Jan Castillo's one of several
Who bike the road - and at some peril
From traffic, yes, but often 'cause
Some turtles love to use their jaws.
Jan said one skating volunteer
Was chased -- though she was quite sincere --
By a snapper feeling hinky
Hoping to take home a pinky.
Ronnie Douglas, a park ranger,
Says there's even further danger
In the form of salmonella
Common to the wetlands dwella.
But the park is taking care
To offer stylish turtle-wear.
So gloves are offered the civilian
Who does enjoy all things reptilian.
Truckers driving Riverport Road
Also hail the noble code:
Jan said one stopped on his way through
Saying: "I've got three turtles for you."
Red-eared slider, river cooter
Some are ugly, some are cuter.
But these turtles, not too swift
Still can get a helpful lift.
The Commercial Appeal, Thursday, June 23, 2005
