Turtle Rescue of Long Island

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Turtle Rescue of Long Island Suffolk County's First Turtle & Tortoise Only Rescue
www.turtlerescues.org
PayPal to donate ~ [email protected]
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Julie Maguire, Director of Turtle Rescue of Long Island (TRLI), and Steve Menikos, both New York State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators, who after many years of keeping turtles realized the need for a network of caring keepers to help turtles that need new homes, founded Turtle Rescue of Long Island. After many years of taking in both native turtles for rehabilitation and non-native turtles and tortoises to place in new homes, we have come to a point where we have grown so that we cannot do both. As of July 31st, 2015 we will no longer be taking in non-native species, instead our concentration will be solely on rehabilitating native turtles. This site has been created to help give turtles and tortoises a better life. (TRLI) is a small 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue that is dedicated to the care and conservation of all species of chelonians. Many turtles are purchased by well-meaning, caring individuals who over time become overwhelmed with the turtle in their care. Whether they were misinformed by the pet shop where they purchased their turtle as to their specific care or size the animal will grow, or just find they can’t provide the care required any longer, TRLI will try to point you in the right direction. We will send you information on proper care for your species and try to help you make changes so you can keep your turtle or tortoise. TRLI strongly urges anyone considering a turtle for a pet to do his or her research first. There are many reliable sites on the internet providing species specific care. You may be able to buy a turtle for ten dollars, but to properly keep a turtle it can cost hundreds of dollars to provide a proper environment. Veterinary care is also a factor, so before you take home that turtle be sure you have a good reptile vet that knows how to treat turtles. If after doing your research you decide a turtle is right for you please consider adopting from one of the many rescues dedicated to them. We are fully supportive of captive breeding to stop the harvesting of turtles and tortoises from the wild. In an ideal world there would be no pet turtles, but we do not live in an ideal world so we believe that captive breeding is the best alternative to ensure our wild turtles do not become extinct. We also support captive breeding programs of species that are on the verge of decline/extinction because of years of harvesting from the wild. We do not condone the mass breeding of turtles and tortoises for profit or otherwise which are overwhelming rescues, especially Sulcata tortoises which end up in the wrong climate. We do encourage anyone with a pet turtle to do their research and give it the care it requires/deserves.

I sure hope they go out with the next tide. :(
07/10/2026

I sure hope they go out with the next tide. :(

On the morning of October 7, 2026, members of the public reported two live stranded juvenile humpback whales to the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. The whales are offshore of Fire Island National Seashore in New York.

At this time, responders are working on plans to provide supportive care and assess the whales’ health. Responders and law enforcement are on site and will continue to monitor the whales.
There are also several other humpback whales in the area, which are also being monitored.

We ask members of the public to keep a safe distance from these whales on land, in the water, and by air. If the whales are unable to refloat with the next high tide, we will reassess and consider all available options.

We appreciate the support and coordination of our partners, including:
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Village Of Saltaire
Fire Island National Seashore
NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic

We will provide further updates as they are available.

All dolphins, porpoises, and whales are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes touching, feeding, or otherwise harming these animals illegal. The best way to assist these animals, and keep them and yourself safe, is by calling trained responders and maintaining a 150-foot distance. To report strandings of marine mammals and sea turtles in NYS, call the NYS Stranding Hotline: 631-369-9829. To report strandings of marine mammals and sea turtles in the northeast, call NOAA’s stranding hotline to be directed to a trained responder in your area: 866-755-6622.

Photo credit: National Parks Service

07/10/2026

A sign on the front door of the restaurant announced the closure.

07/10/2026
For the best chance of having your pet tortoise returned if it should escape your yard, tag it. It will alert anyone spo...
07/10/2026

For the best chance of having your pet tortoise returned if it should escape your yard, tag it. It will alert anyone spotting the tortoise that it's not a wild tortoise and it won't be thrown into a park or a pond if found.

So glad I decided to bring the tortoises in early this year. Not sure their heated shelters would have kept them warm en...
07/10/2026

So glad I decided to bring the tortoises in early this year. Not sure their heated shelters would have kept them warm enough.

06/10/2026
Temperature dropped down to 45° here last night. Glad we have the temperate tortoises and turtles safely tucked inside f...
06/10/2026

Temperature dropped down to 45° here last night. Glad we have the temperate tortoises and turtles safely tucked inside for the season. The heated nighttime shelters are great, but we've been getting lower temps during the day as well so inside is best for our climate. I'm sure the turtles and tortoises that brumate will be digging down soon.

06/10/2026

Turtles are on the move again!

In the spring, many female turtles leave the water and travel surprisingly far upland to find a safe place to lay their eggs. While it might seem strange to leave a nest so far from the water, there is a good reason for it. Raccoons, opossums, foxes, and other predators frequently travel along waterways, so nesting away from the water can help keep turtle eggs out of the way of some of their biggest predators.

Now, as temperatures drop, many turtles are on the move again as they search for suitable places to spend the winter. Here in Waukesha County, that means finding water deep enough to survive the cold, including periods when the top of the water freezes.

Turtles brumate rather than hibernate. During brumation, they remain in a state of very low activity rather than entering the deep sleep associated with hibernation. Their metabolism and breathing slow way down, allowing them to conserve energy and survive the winter. Many of our aquatic turtles spend the winter underwater, where they can absorb oxygen through specialized tissues around their cloaca, a process called cloacal respiration. In other words, turtles can breathe through their butts!

So as turtles make their way to their winter homes, please keep an eye out while driving. If you encounter a turtle in the road and it is safe to help, you can move it to the side of the road in the direction it was already traveling. Do not turn it around or take it somewhere else. That turtle is on its way somewhere, and it knows where it needs to go.

06/10/2026

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PO Box 43

11720

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