Giaquinto Wildlife Center

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

🚨THAT ROCK IN THE ROAD COULD BE A TURTLE! 🐢

Please slow down.

This is peak turtle crossing season, and many turtles are on the move looking for nesting sites or returning to water. Unfortunately, countless turtles are injured or killed on roadways each year simply because drivers don’t see them in time.

💚 When you’re driving near wetlands, ponds, streams, or wooded areas, stay alert and keep an eye on the road ahead. That “rock” you spot in the roadway may actually be a turtle trying to make its way across.

⚠️ If it’s safe to do so, please help the turtle cross in the direction it was already headed. Turning it around may send it right back into traffic.

A few extra seconds can save a life. Slow down, stay alert, and help protect our wild neighbors. 🐢

06/04/2026

🚨🦎 JUST 2 DAYS AWAY! 🦉🐊🐍

Get ready for an unforgettable day of animals, conservation, and family fun while supporting an incredible local sanctuary that gives hundreds of animals a second chance!

🎟️ Meet amazing animals up close
🐊 See an alligator
🦎 Meet Goose the famous monitor lizard
🦉 Meet Bella and her birds of prey friends
🐍 Experience live reptile encounters
🐕 Watch the Massachusetts Environmental Police K-9 Unit in action
🐢 Visit ambassador animals from the Burlington Science Center
🎩 Enjoy live entertainment and family activities throughout the day

❤️ This special fundraiser supports RRS Oasis Animal Sanctuary, home to more than 400 rescued animals. Many were abandoned, surrendered, neglected, or illegally possessed before finding safety and care at the sanctuary.

🦉 Be sure to stop by the Giaquinto Wildlife Center table!

🍂 Dissect real owl pellets
🦉 Meet Bella
🌎 Learn about wildlife conservation
💚 Discover how you can help local wildlife
📸 Chat with us about wildlife rehabilitation and meet some incredible birds of prey ambassadors

🎉 You’ll also meet incredible organizations from across Massachusetts, including wildlife groups, animal rescues, environmental educators, artists, conservation organizations, and more.

🍔 Food available for purchase
🚗 Free parking
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fun for all ages

Every ticket helps provide food, veterinary care, housing, and enrichment for hundreds of rescued animals.

🎟️ Get your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-live-animals-family-event-supporting-rrs-oasis-animal-sanctuary-tickets-1986168854510

🦎🐍🦉 Hundreds of animals. One amazing cause. Countless opportunities to connect with wildlife and the people working to protect it. We can’t wait to see you!

06/03/2026

On my way home from my daughter’s ballet class, I came across a small painted turtle trying to cross the road. I immediately turned around and pulled over to help, but as I was getting out of the car, another vehicle drove over the turtle and sadly killed it. It was heartbreaking.

As fate would have it, about a half hour later, my husband was on his way to golf when he spotted another painted turtle trying to cross a road. This time, he was able to safely help it across.

Sometimes wildlife work feels like heartbreak and hope all in the same day.

⚠️Please slow down and keep an eye on the roads this time of year. Turtles are on the move, searching for nesting sites and crossing roadways more frequently. A few extra seconds of attention can make all the difference for these incredible animals. 🐢💚

(📸 internet picture. This was not the turtle that was safely crossed today.)

06/02/2026

Today I had the absolute honor of being invited by five incredible eighth grade students to attend and speak at their meeting with the Sudbury Board of Health. The students chose the dangers of rodenticides to wildlife as their civics project and have been working hard to research the issue and advocate for change in their community.

Earlier this year, they reached out to me for guidance because they would like to see the Town of Sudbury ban anticoagulant rodenticides on town-owned property. Since we successfully established this policy in Marlborough, they wanted to learn more about the process and the impact these toxic poisons have on wildlife.

Today, I had the privilege of watching them present their work to a room full of Board of Health members. It was an intimidating setting, but they handled themselves with confidence, professionalism, and passion. They absolutely nailed their presentation.

There is nothing more inspiring than seeing young people not only learn about an important conservation issue, but also step up and advocate for wildlife in their community. This is an issue that wildlife advocates across Massachusetts continue to work on, and to see students this young taking an interest in protecting wildlife and creating positive change is truly remarkable.

The future is bright with leaders like these. I couldn’t be more proud of these young women and grateful to have played a small part in their conservation journey. Well done, girls! 💚

06/01/2026

June has arrived! We're looking forward to the summer solstice, flickering fireflies, Luna Moths and more. What are you excited to see?

Download, print, and screen read here: massaudubon.org/almanac

05/31/2026

Today we spoke to a kind person who lived in a surrounding community to us. He explained he just rescued ducklings that had fallen into a storm drain. Two babies had become separated from their mother, and we were able to provide guidance on safely reuniting them on land with mama duck, who had left them behind, but was still in the area.

After hearing her babies peeping, mom came right over and the family was reunited. 🦆💛

We also asked for the storm drain location so we can include it in our pilot program and help prevent this from happening again.

I love hearing stories like this. Because one person stopped to help, a duck family stayed together today. ❤️

05/31/2026

Finally some nice weather here in Massachusetts, and Bella is soaking up every minute of it! ☀️🦉

Today’s spa treatment included a refreshing misting session. While most owls prefer to keep their opinions private, Bella made it very clear that she approves of being turned into a lightly hydrated feather duster. 😂

The look on her face says, “Please continue, human.” Meanwhile, I’m standing there with a spray bottle feeling like I’ve somehow been promoted to Bella’s full-time owl spa attendant. 💦🦉👑