“Possum” Pat Newton, an animal rehabber from Hendersonville, talks about Eastern Box Turtles at a Champions For Wildlife event. (Photo by Storme Smith)

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TRYON— On Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, Champions for Wildlife hosted a free educational event titled “Wild for Turtles” at the Tryon Depot, drawing families with children for a morning filled with fun and learning about Eastern Box Turtles.

Attendees had the unique opportunity to meet a pair of rescue turtles up close and hear their stories. The event featured interactive presentations, along with a special appearance by licensed wildlife rehabilitator “Possum” Pat Newton. 

While Newton specializes in rehabilitating possums, she is also dedicated to caring for Box Turtles.

“I love wildlife,” said Newton. “I took a class on Appalachian Wildlife about five years ago on animal rehabilitation. It’s a growing field, and it’s wonderful to see so many young children interested in it as a career.”

During her presentation, Education Manager Alexis Hinchliffe shared interesting facts about turtles, including their directional superpowers, and advised that when helping a turtle off the highway, it should be carried in the direction it is pointing.

The educational experience continued with a turtle-themed art activity, where kids participated in coloring a large turtle mural that was later displayed, as well as creating aluminum foil art to take home—a creative way to remember their learning experience.

“This event is more than just a morning of fun,” said Hinchliffe. “These summer events are important because they bring families together around something that matters—the wild world around them. When parents get involved, the learning expands beyond the classroom!”

Loti Woods, founder of Champions for Wildlife, expressed gratitude to those who helped make the event a success. 

“Wild for Turtles is made possible by a generous grant from the Polk County Community Foundation,” she said. “We’d also like to thank Andy Millard for allowing us to use the Tryon Depot and our dedicated volunteers.”

Champions for Wildlife’s next event is a Bird Walk on July 30 at Swiftwater Farms in Mill Spring. For more information, visit championsforwildlife.org.