Perhaps like us, you’ve been wondering about how the coronavirus shutdown is affecting the natural world, water resources, infrastructure, and the work of environmental advocates. We reached out to a group of experts in the Finding the Flint Working Group to see what they are noticing during these weeks of cancelled meetings, work-from-home experimentation, and quiet time outdoors.

Here’s our Q&A with Finding the Flint ally, Greg Brashear. Greg is a DNR-certified educator focused on turtle and tortoise education, outdoor housing and care, and conservation of Georgia’s amazing turtles. He captures his herping adventures on his YouTube channel, Greg’s Turtle Heaven. For the last decade, he’s been photographing and capturing video of the rich diversity of native fauna species in the upper tributaries of the Flint River, including his favorite since childhood; the Alligator Snapping Turtle.

How are you? What are your days like right now?

I am doing well, thankfully. I was in Thailand in early February and they were already taking people’s temperatures there. We had to head home early. We were there visiting family, but every day, I would find some way to weasel turtles into the itinerary. In Thailand, people bring tortoises and turtles to the temple for good luck. Now, I’m home in Georgia, working on turtle and tortoise habitats each day; building a new pond, making improvements, and creating nesting areas for the current season. There is always something to do.

What have you noticed about how the coronavirus shutdown is affecting turtles and your work?

For me, the most immediate result after the shutdown was the cancellations of my work and wildlife education presentations. I still have the ability to go into nature and create media to share across different platforms to educate digitally. I have actually had more time lately to get into some creeks and streams when the weather is good, and I have more opportunity for photo and video documentation.

Turtles, on the other hand, have been around for millions of years, so the shutdown isn’t changing much for them. Right now, there’s less air pollution, less driving, less potential runoff into the Flint and other waterways. That affects everything turtles eat: mollusks, fish, plants. So they may benefit short term.

Humans may notice turtles more this spring. We will see them nesting, coming out and basking. Right now, they are coming out from being dormant for months, firing up their metabolism, mating, some may be laying eggs. With more people not working and getting stir crazy and getting out into nature, it’s going to put more people into contact with turtles. There’s definitely something that happens when people see them… people don’t realize the amount or the variety of species in the Flint. The southeastern US has more turtle diversity than the rest of the world. Turtles need greater awareness. The more people that are aware of our impacts on habitat loss, the better.

Do you think these changes are temporary?

The urge to get out is pushing people to explore nature. It’s good to see people putting down their devices and getting out. I would hope that change sticks. Everyone will have to go back to work at some point, but the impact of that experience will last.

Any silver linings that we should try to preserve?

The biggest silver lining I've seen is that people, especially young people, are getting outside again and exploring nature.

For example, I go to this spot on the Flint River in Gay, Georgia, just a little DNR boat ramp, a super random spot that nobody knows about. Recently, we showed up and there were a bunch of cars in the parking lot. A guy from Roswell with a canoe was asking me for directions; it was great. I saw families out there fishing and exploring. I’ve going there since 2012 and that was the most people I’ve seen there.

Exploring around our local rivers and streams is going to create new interest and support, which is always needed. I hope that we walk away from this with more of an appreciation for the natural world.

How can we help?

The best way we can help is continuing to put good information out there, and with grassroots meetings and trips to explore. When you go out and see wildlife, snap a picture, post it, document it. It’s super valuable information and helps to reflect the health of that section of the river.

However, with rare and protected species like Barbour’s Map and Alligator Snapping turtles, be careful not to give too much information to poachers. If you post a sighting to iNaturalist or Instagram, don’t geotag it. Just say “North Georgia,” or “Flint River drainage,” and instead, send details to Georgia Wildlife Resources Division.

Perspectives on the Shutdown: Turtles