Notes from an Environmentalist. Endangered red-bellied cooter discovered below Ipswich dam.

Notes from an Environmentalist.

Photos by Don Paquin

In mid-July an endangered species of turtle, the red bellied cooter was discovered below the Ipswich dam. This could potentially slow or derail the dam’s removal.

A state official was dispatched to the area to capture the turtle and determine if it had been reintroduced to Massachusetts prior to 2018. The closest indigenous population of red-bellied cooters is in New Jersey

No microchips were detected so presumably the turtle had not been released to bring back the species. While the state official stood in the water, he was nuzzled by close to a dozen musk turtles. There are also red sliders, painted turtles and snapping turtles above and below the dam.

Hopefully all of these fresh water turtles and fish will be captured and relocated before the dam is removed.