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After pipeline work, Blanding’s turtles released in Michigan
When a new natural gas pipeline was being built north of Detroit in 2020, wildlife workers moved affected reptiles and amphibians and their eggs out of the way — particularly endangered and threatened species. Now, 18 juvenile Blanding’s turtles hatched from those eggs have been released to a restored wetland along the pipeline right of way. “More than 29,000 turtles, frogs, salamanders, lizards and snakes have been rescued and relocated from the project area during construction,” the Associated Press reports. Employees of the utility Consumer Energy joined Herpetological Resource and Management and the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium in the release. Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are considered a species of concern in the region.