Park Directory
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Visitor's Center Hours
Open 9:00am – 5:00pm
Map
Printable Map
Grounds
8am – Sunset Daily
Note
For-Mar is a pet and smoke-free facility.
Site Key
FOUND AN INJURED TURTLE?
Reach out to these state-licensed turtle and reptile rehabilitators:
| Organization/Person | County | Contact Information | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanya Procknow | Emmet | (231)-537-7600 | N/A |
| Jyl Gaskin | Grand Traverse | (231)-267-5722 | N/A |
| Carolyn Tropp | Ingham | (517)-927-7578 | N/A |
| Sharron Butler | Kalamazoo | (269)-649-2028 | N/A |
| Michigan Amphibian & Reptile Sanctuary | Kalamazoo | (616)-312-7412 | https://www.facebook.com/MIamphibianreptilesanctuary/ |
| Howell Nature Center | Livingston | (517)-548-5530 | https://www.howellnaturecenter.org/ |
| Happy Snapper Rescue | Oakland | [email protected] (586)-489-0386 | https://www.facebook.com/happysnapperrescue/ |
IMPORTANT!
- Do NOT take wild turtles from For-Mar (or elsewhere) to keep as pets. Blanding’s Turtles are a protected species in Michigan, and as of April 2025, they are protected under the DNR Fisheries Order 224.25 – meaning it is illegal to kill, trap, possess, buy, sell, or take from the wild, including their eggs, without specific permits and permission. [3]
- For-Mar does NOT take in unwanted pet turtles and does NOT allow any animals to be released in the park including turtles.
- For-Mar does NOT allow feeding wildlife in the park and does not recommend feeding turtles anywhere in the wild.
DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!
Remember – students conducting this research are trained and supervised by professionals which have the proper permits to handle the turtles. If you come across any turtles in the park or elsewhere, do NOT attempt to handle or otherwise interfere with the turtles unless they are in immediate danger, such as being in a roadway. If you assist a turtle across a road, move it in the direction it was already traveling. Always wash your hands after handling any wildlife, especially turtles.
REPORT BLANDING’S TURTLE SIGHTINGS
See a turtle? Report Blanding’s turtle sightings to the following organizations:
• Michigan Natural Features Inventory Rare Species Report –
https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/report
• MDNR Eyes in the Field –
https://hub.arcgis.com/datasets/e3a5555fee1e45df8c9f2db7023d6140
• Michigan Herp (Herpetology) Atlas – https://miherpatlas.org
OTHER BLANDING’S TURTLE
PROJECTS AT FOR-MAR!
Interested in a Blanding’s turtle print-out to share and help spread awareness? Check out this flyer, also available in the For-Mar Nature Center!
Check out our Blanding’s turtle social media posts for more turtle content!
Visit our Blanding’s turtle mural and turtle tank located in the For-Mar Nature Center to learn more about this unique species!
COMING SOON
2026 Field Biology Project. Created by Bailey Patterson, Ren LaFave, Autumn Rasmussen, Landen Andre, and Connor Leser
REFERENCES:
[1] Nagle, Roy D, et al. “A Simple and Reliable System for Marking Hard-Shelled
Turtles: The North American Code.” Herpetological Review, Vol. 48, no. 2, 22 June
2017, pp. 327–330, www.researchgate.net/publication/317780325_A_simple_and_reliable_system_for_mar king_hard-shelled_turtles_The_North_American_Code. Accessed 7 June 2026.
[2] Silvy, Nova J. The Wildlife Techniques Manual. Vol. 1: Research, Baltimore, Md., Johns Hopkins University Press, 1 Mar. 2012, pp. 435–487.
[3] Natural Resources Commission and the Department of Natural Resources. Regulations on the Take of Reptiles and Amphibians. 12 Sept. 2024, www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/Orders/Fish-Orders/FO _224.pdf?rev=7152dfabdea440ba914f0f354e23cabe&hash=5B6E83BCC089BB3AF9D 02A43FF874BFE. Accessed 7 June 2026.
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