Professor awarded U.S. fish and wildlife service grant
Dr. Day Ligon, assistant professor of biology at Missouri State University, received continued funding of $21,696 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for the project “A Survey of Alligator Snapping Turtle and Other Turtle Species in Northeastern Oklahoma Rivers.”
“Turtles are declining at incredible rates worldwide. Alligator snapping turtles share this downward trajectory, but I believe that reintroduction along with frequent post-release assessments present the most viable approach to conserving the species,” says Ligon.
The survey continues on the Caney, Verdigris and Neosho rivers in Oklahoma. Alligator snapping turtles have already been reintroduced into the Caney River, and funds will be used to monitor the effectiveness of the reintroduction. The survey team will determine if any turtles remain in other areas and how suitable the rivers would be for reintroduction of the species.
Financial support for this publication was provided by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation through the State Wildlife Grant T-52-1 and Missouri State University.
For more information, contact Ligon at (417) 836-5339.
