Last summer I wrote a blog about the absence of turtles. I still do not see as many as in years ago, but I have seen more this year. In particular, outside my window where I sit at my computer. There is an almost daily stream of female Elegant Sliders Trachemys scripta looking for a good place to lay their eggs.
I have taken at least a dozen of them out of the main area of the RV park and put them down towards the end of the populated area where they can lay their eggs in a place much more conducive to survival of the offspring.
It does make me feel a bit better about the numbers, even though they are still low.
Same as with lizards. I have seen more lizards this Spring as well. Still not in great numbers but more than I saw last year.
Perhaps all that has something to do with the incredible amount of rain this year. I may just not have been as observant last year, but I don't think that was the case.
Regardless of the reasons, I have enjoyed seeing more of them. I have gotten a chance to take more pictures of them this year. Naturally, I hope that will continue. It is only mid June.
I would like to see some recent figures on how many thousands and thousands are being sent to China. I don't know that the laws passed a few years ago had that much impact. I will do a little research soon and see what I can find.