In parternship with the Seatuck Environmental Association, the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt, the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center, Group for the East End, Bark & Code, and Brookhaven National Labs, we are leading a long-term ecological monitoring program focused on New York's Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). Specifically, we are collecting data to investigate the demography, life history, habitat use, genetic diversity, diet, and more (!) of these charismatic, long-lived turtles. Volunteers will work alongside scientists, conservation partners, and a trained wildlife detection dog team (Bark & Code) to help find and document turtles in parks and preserves across the Long Island and NYC region. 

Volunteers are an essential part of our survey efforts and play a major role in helping us locate Eastern box turtles. Participation in as little as one survey day is sufficient to volunteer; however, we ask that anyone who signs up commit to attending for the full duration of that day's survey. Volunteers will work alongside researchers, conservation partners, and a trained wildlife detection dog team from Bark & Code to help locate, document, and monitor turtles in parks and preserves throughout Long Island and the New York City region. Volunteer recruitment for the 2027 field season will begin in April 2027.

Volunteers will walk systematic transects through the habitat alongside the turtle detection dog team, assisting in visual searches for box turtles. Each turtle we find will be carefully measured, weighed, photographed, and assessed for age, sex, and overall health. We will also give each turtle a small, harmless shell notch for identification and collect a tiny blood sample for future genetic studies. After data collection, every turtle will be gently returned to the exact spot where it was found. Volunteers will have the opportunity to observe and learn about these scientific techniques, but all handling and measurements will be performed by trained researchers. 

This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in wildlife research, contribute to conservation science, and work alongside trained wildlife detection dogs. Whether you are a student, naturalist, or outdoor enthusiast, your participation will help us better understand how Eastern box turtles are faring in the most urban portion of their home range.

Fieldwork involves walking several miles over uneven terrain and through dense vegetation, often in warm and humid conditions. Volunteers may encounter ticks, mosquitoes, poison ivy, and other natural hazards. Although rare, there is also a possibility of encountering snakes, wasps, or uneven footing that could lead to minor injuries. All volunteers should wear appropriate clothing, including insect-repellent-treated gear, and be prepared for outdoor conditions. Safety guidelines will be reviewed before each survey. To ensure everyone’s safety, volunteers will be asked to complete a simple liability waiver before joining the surveys.

We will be joined in the field by Dr. Kris Hoffmann—owner of Bark & Code—and her wildlife detection dogs, Newt and April! Kris and Newt have assisted with many turtle surveys across the northeast, with many of their endeavors highlighted in the press, including The Dodo, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, The National Desk, and many more. Kris and Newt were part of our inaugural surveys in 2025, and this year they will be joined by April, a newly trained detection dog that Kris has added to the team.