Graduation preparation for class of 2025 endangered western pond turtles

As college, high school, and middle school students prepare for graduation commencement, Woodland Park Zoo is getting its own class of 2025 ready for their graduation. These aren’t students, however—they're a class of western pond turtles. The turtles were brought as eggs to the zoo last summer, hatched and given a head start on life under the care of dedicated experts.

On Tuesday, May 20, the public is invited to pre-graduation activities to watch Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists weigh and measure each of the juvenile turtles—a final “test” to confirm they are big enough to escape the mouths of invasive bullfrogs. Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to connect with biologists and zoo docents, learn about the zoo’s efforts in recovering the state’s endangered western pond turtles and check out turtle-themed activities.

Each turtle that passes will embark on the next chapter of their lives—living in protected wetlands where they can submerge in vegetation, bask on logs, swim among mud banks, and dine on insects, amphibians and aquatic plants.

Join us May 20, 10am-12pm in Cathy Herzig Basecamp Northwest at Living Northwest Trail for a turtley awesome time!

You may also like the following events from Woodland Park Zoo:

• This Sunday, 18th May, 12:30 pm, A Brush With Nature in Seattle
• Next Saturday, 24th May, 11:00 am, Grazing At the Zoo: Afternoon Tea in Seattle
• Next Saturday, 24th May, 06:30 pm, A Brush With Nature in Seattle

Also check out other Workshops in Seattle, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Seattle.