written by Sy Montgomery
book review by JoAnn Hackos

Sy Montgomery’s most recent book focuses largely on the work of The Turtle Rescue League, a facility in New England that is focused on recovering sick and injured turtles and returning them to the wild. Their facility is armed with security systems because turtles are so valuable on the black market that they are often abducted.

In fact, we had a pet turtle abducted, not because it was that valuable (it was a standard red ear slider like those that were once sold in most dime stores), but because one of the cub scouts in my son’s troop thought it would be fun to steal it from its tank and take it home to die in the drawer under his bed. Luckily, his mother found it while cleaning and we got him back for several more years.

The turtles in Montgomery’s story have not been abducted but have been gravely injured, usually by being run over by vehicles. They are rescued by people who care about them and are brought for treatment to the Rescue League, which is where we meet most of them in Montgomery’s account.

What I think will be so surprising to most readers is just how intelligent and friendly the turtles being treated are. We first meet Pizza Man, a twenty-year-old, twelve-pound red-footed tortoise. He loves attention, greets people with spirit, and is exceedingly friendly. Another is Sprockets, a 30-poung Burmese mountain tortoise, which had been found wandering in a park, dumped by his owner. We learn that “turtles have distinctive personalities and experience strong emotions.” And we learn about the people who are trying to make a difference.

Montgomery introduces us to the Turtle Survival Alliance in South Carolina which works to preserve and protect endangered turtles that are victims of the illegal wildlife trade, many winding up in the Chinese elixir market. Without the aid of the Turtle Survival Center, many of the species would become extinct or are already extinct in the wild.

Humans, unfortunately, are the primary but not the only cause of turtle deaths. A 4,000-lb vehicle can destroy a slow-moving turtle trying to cross a road during their nesting phase. They are also killed or injured by dogs and cats, lawn mowers, farm equipment, curious children, and anything that destroys their nesting areas. The rescue team finds turtles with broken shells, with all their organs squashed, with crushed ribs, a catalog of terrible injuries. The team at the Rescue League works hard to repair the injuries and keep them alive so they have time to heal. They rescue eggs laid in inauspicious areas, like parking lots, raising the young hatchlings until they’re large enough to release back into the wild.

Montgomery not only explains the process of rescuing injured turtles, but also explains how turtles live, mate, lay eggs and grow up, all part of a fascinating story from the perspective of people dedicated to ensuring that they grow up and thrive. She visits turtles at their ponds and at the beach, learning that they are all interesting and worthy of saving.

The most detailed saga in the book concerns the snapping turtle named Fire Chief. He was rescued trying to cross a road from his pond. He’s at least 60 years old, if not 100. And he has difficulty walking and must be strengthened with daily excursions outdoors if he is ever going to return to his pond. One of the great success stories in the book is the day that Fire Chief goes back home to his pond. Of Time and Turtle is both difficult and overwhelmingly gratifying to read. You are introduced to turtles from local ponds and around the world. You discover how they are horribly affected by human actions and how they are saved. If you’ve ever loved a turtle or thought about adopting one or wanted to ensure they are safe, Sy Montgomery has a wonderful story to tell you.