Turtle release gives threatened species a head start in Skamania County

An important part of the Columbia River Gorge ecosystem, the threatened western pond turtle, got a boost last week after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staffers released young pond turtles at “Turtle Haven,” a protected Skamania County site owned by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

The Sept.10 turtle release wasn’t the first of its kind, but it was the first time Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has released the threatened turtles at Turtle Haven.