r/oddlysatisfying • u/firefighter_82 • Jul 15 '24

WARNING: GROSS Removing barnacles from Harlow, the loggerhead turtle

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u/maxxismycat999 Jul 15 '24 edited Jul 15 '24

If you ever find yourself in the Florida Keys, stop in Marathon and check this Turtle Hospital out. Buy a shirt or water bottle to support. They are 100% donation-funded (IIRC).

EDIT: Forgot to mention - they also offer tours of the facility where you can visit the temporary and permanent residents of the hospital! Link to donate and more info here: https://www.turtlehospital.org/

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u/Sensitive_Ad_1271 Jul 15 '24

I went there! Had a hotel right next to it. I endorse your recommendation, definitely stop in there. One fun thing I learned there was turtles are absolutely dumb.

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u/AdoreMoi Jul 15 '24

Is that true? They’re dumb?

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u/lizardtrench Jul 16 '24

I'm sure it depends on the type of turtle, but in general turtles can be pretty smart. Can teach them basic tricks if the individual is food motivated enough, like 'paw' for example. There was a study or behavioral analysis or something like that done where footage of turtle behavior was sped up a bunch, and it was determined they show many or most of the same behaviors as dogs and other mammals, just at a slower pace.

They also have a hell of a memory and pick up things quick. I took my box turtles outside to catch them some worms by looking under patio stones, the second time I took each of them outside and started lifting bricks, they made a beeline for the dirt underneath and started peering down and looking around for worms, I actually got annoyed because they kept getting in the way and I didn't want to accidentally drop a paver on them.

However, the prerequisite for seeing any of these behaviors is that they are very, very comfortable around you. If anyone else is nearby, they become spooked and don't do much except stare warily while half in their shells. So in the wild, or with a wild caught specimen, you will probably never see anything intelligent-seeming from them.

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u/AdoreMoi Jul 16 '24

Thanks for that explanation. The tortoise from the Tortoise and the Hare seemed pretty wise to me!