Letters

I am hoping you will understand the environmental impact of what natural open space, near watering holes, does for our native wildlife.

I can only speak professionally as a New York State licensed expert for our state-protected “species of special concern,” Eastern box turtles, and the “endangered” Eastern mud turtles, and “threatened” Eastern spotted turtles, that all call this Poxabogue meadow and Poxabogue Pond home [“Fate of Southampton Town-Owned Poxabogue Field, Within Sagaponack Village, Is Debated at Town Board Meeting,” 27east.com, September 10].

You may ask why our native turtles are important. They are a keystone species, which means if they are removed from the environment, the balance will collapse.

They introduce calcium into our depleted soil, with their buried egg shells and their own shells after death. They eat ticks and other nuisance insects. They are an indicator species, meaning they gauge the health of our ecosystem by their population. They are part of nature’s clean-up crew, cleaning the bottom of water bodies of decaying matter and carrion.

The turtles that live in the pond use the meadow for a nesting site. All aquatic species nest on dry land. Only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings make it to adulthood. So you see how important it is to keep natural open spaces.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Karen Testa

Executive Director

Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons Inc.

Jamesport