A snapping turtle that children bludgeoned with stones earlier in September is recovering at the Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in New Britain Township.
The attack left substantial damage to the turtle's carapace, or top shell, exposing tissue and muscle underneath, as first reported by Patch. The Aark described the animal in a Sept. 22 Facebook post as an old adult male that had likely been alive for decades. Rescuers intervened and brought him to the center. Without that help, the turtle might not have survived, the Aark said.
He will spend the winter in the center's clinic. Staff plan to release him back to his natural habitat next spring.
In its post, the Aark urged parents to teach children to respect wildlife, noting that turtles can feel pain through their shells. The message drew more than 100 comments, many from residents expressing outrage.
The center did not disclose where the stoning took place or whether the children involved were identified. Whether any legal consequences followed is unknown. Under Pennsylvania law, animal abuse that causes bodily injury is a second-degree misdemeanor carrying up to two years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The Aark, a nonprofit, has been in operation since 1979 and relocated to Chalfont in 2008, according to a 6abc report. Leah Stallings, who served as executive director as of that 2022 report, said the center relies on close to 1,000 volunteers. The Aark cares for more than 5,000 birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians each year, according to its website, and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Residents who want to support the center's work or learn about wildlife rehabilitation can visit aark.org.
Upcoming community dates:
- The Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at its New Britain Township location in Chalfont.
