A Feast of Compassion on Four Tree Island

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Once again, the NH Animal Rights League’s annual summer outing, held September 6, 2025 at Four Tree Island, Portsmouth, was a big success.

We’re so grateful to our guests for bringing such delicious dishes to share. Also, special thanks to our wonderful volunteers — Carole, Dave, Kris, and Lyn — whose hard work setting up, tending the grill, and keeping things running smoothly made the event a success.

Old and new Friends

The summer outing is an opportunity for people who care about animals to connect with like-minded individuals. We were delighted to see so many new and old friends! 

Ocean Plastic Harms Aquatic Life

Our theme for the event was, once again, the impact of ocean plastic on aquatic life. Guests were invited to participate in an Ocean Plastic Scavenger Hunt, while learning about how plastic trash and abandoned fishing nets/gear have turned the oceans into mine fields for animals such as turtles, dolphins, whales, and seabirds.

Thank you to everyone who participated — you cleaned up the island!

At the end of the scavenger hunt, the collected trash was weighed to determine the winner.

The most unusual find was not actually plastic, but something more silky…

Missing a thong? Contact Steve.

Thank you!

A huge thank-you to everyone who joined us, brought such tasty dishes, and pitched in with donations. We couldn’t do this work for animals without your support. Rest up and we’ll see you next year!

Encouraging Dog Lovers to Have Compassion for All Animals

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On August 23, 2025, NHARL had a booth at the first-ever Bark in the Park Festival held at Rollins Park in Concord, NH, where we encouraged dog lovers to have compassion for all animals — even those we’ve been taught to see as food.

Winner of the Ninja Blast!

Thank you to everyone who joined our mailing list and was entered to win the Ninja Blast + The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan. Our lucky winner is Prashanthi Divakar!

Spin & learn About Farmed Animals

We invited eventgoers to test their knowledge of the animals on our plates by spinning the wheel and answering questions that revealed the capabilities of cows, pigs, chickens, lambs, fish, and lobsters.

After spinning the wheel, kids answered a question about the animal they landed on, using the sheets below. Click for a close-up.

1-Minute Heart-Tugging Video

To help visitors connect the meat on their plates to the animals it came from — animals who share all the wonderful qualities of dogs — we created this short video.

The reward for watching? An ice-cold can of our signature drink — RISE oat milk cold-brew coffee.

Vegan Dog Treats!

Dogs who stopped by to say hi were offered plant-based V-dog wigglebiscuits — a big hit!

merlin!

This is Merlin. He stopped by our tent to say hello. Merlin is looking for his forever home. If you’d like to meet him, we can hook you up. Drop us an email at info@nhanimalrights.org.

Revealing the Cold, Hard Truth About Dairy

Posted on by Joan OBrien in In the News

We’re proud to report that our outreach made a real impact at the Market Days Festival in downtown Concord, NH, June 26-28, 2025. 

During this three-day event, we pulled back the curtain on dairy, inviting visitors to view a one-minute video about the brutal treatment of cows inherent in the dairy industry.

In exchange for watching the video, we offered cans of vegan cold brew coffee from RISE Brewing Co..

1-Min Video: Seeing is Believing

Visitors to our booth were invited to watch the following 1-minute video created by Joey Carbstrong titled, How Dairy Is Made.

As we warned viewers, the video is graphic, but it shows the truth — and people deserve to know the truth about the products on the supermarket shelves.

The best Dairy-Free Products

To make ditching dairy feel doable, we displayed a poster featuring VegNews magazine’s top-rated non-dairy products in each category.

Want to Play Truth or Dairy?

We drew kids and their families to our booth by asking if they wanted to play Truth or Dairy — almost everyone agreed to the game. The quiz helped people see that cows are just like dogs and also gave us a chance to challenge some widespread dairy myths. Click to view PDF

Results: While we didn’t get all the completed quizzes back (some people kept them), below are the results for a representative sample: 

Posters

We had a selection of thought-provoking posters, some of which we hung outside the tent, making use of what was essentially free “billboard” space!

vegan protein sources

Glow-In-The-Dark Giveaway

We gave out squeaky cow toys as well as tiny glow-in-the-dark cows, packaged with a powerful educational message.

front

back

Goodie Bags

We handed out more “goodie bags” containing vegan literature (sampling below).

Thank you!

A heartfelt thank you to all our supporters — and to everyone who stopped by to learn the truth about dairy.
see you next year

Capturing Support for a Rodenticide Free NH

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On June 14, 2025, NHARL and Voices of Wildlife in NH shared a booth at Portsmouth Market Square Day, where we educated the public about the harm rodenticide poses to wildlife and collected signatures in support of ending their use in New Hampshire.

Collecting signatures

We gathered close to 200 signatures in support of banning the use of rodenticides that are killing hawks, owls, foxes, and other predators who end up consuming poisoned rodents. 

We will use this list to demonstrate widespread support for legislative or policy changes that we plan to pursue in the future.

Click to add your name!

Eye-Catching Visuals

Our posters and props were useful in catching attention and helping convey the grave threat rodenticides pose to wildlife. 

(Credit: Raptors Are the Solution)

(Credit: Raptors Are the Solution)

Our handout included tips for safe rodent control and a list of poison-free professionals.  

Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who stopped by to learn about the harms of rodent poison! Let’s work together for a Rodenticide Free NH!

Inspiring Dog Lovers to Care About All Animals

Posted on by Joan OBrien in In the News

On May 31, 2025, NHARL had a booth at the Manchester Animal Shelter’s Mutt Strutt, where we encouraged dog lovers to have compassion for all animals — even those we’ve been taught to see as food.

Think You Know Farmed Animals?

We invited eventgoers to test their knowledge of farmed animals with a quiz that revealed the capabilities of cows, pigs, and chickens.

(Answers at end)

1-Minute Tear-Jerker Video

To help visitors connect the meat on their plates to the animals it came from — animals who share all the wonderful qualities of dogs — we created this short video, which played on a loop throughout the event.

Vegan Dog Treats!

We sent dog guardians home with samples of plant-based V-dog wigglebiscuits — which were a big hit with the dogs who stopped by our table!

Quiz Answers

Question 1: C is correct. Mother cows form deep bonds with their calves and have been observed calling for them and showing signs of distress long after separation.

Question 2: C is correct. Pigs can play video games with joysticks, solve puzzles, and recognize themselves in mirrors—something even dogs can’t do!

Question 3: C is correct. Chickens know that objects still exist even when hidden—an ability that human babies don’t develop until several months old!

Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who stopped by to learn about why all animals deserve our compassion!

Manchester Vegan Chef Challenge Winners

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On May 31, 2025, we wrapped up the month-long inaugural Manchester Vegan Chef Challenge with an awards ceremony at KS Kitchen. 

We had a total of 12 local businesses join the challenge, and more than 250 community voters provided feedback on their favorite dishes through ratings and reviews.

Above, Chef Ian (left) and Chef Jeff of Stash Box pose with their 1st place award, which included a golden spatula!

The event got a huge publicity boost thanks to coverage by WMUR’s NH Chronicle! Watch the segment on our Facebook page.

We’re deeply grateful to the participating restaurants for their creativity and commitment, and to everyone who sampled the dishes and cast a vote. Your enthusiasm helps demonstrate the growing demand for delicious, accessible vegan food in Manchester and beyond.

We’re excited to bring the event back in May 2026 and hope to see even greater participation!

Promoting Veganism Among Environmentalists

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Did you know that eating vegan is one of the most powerful ways to protect the planet?

Today at the Nashua Sustainability Fair, we shared how choosing a plant-based diet reduces our ecological footprint, helps preserve biodiversity, and spares countless animals from suffering.

Familiar Faces

It was a delight to see NHARL friends Anita and Dave, representing New Hampshire Audubon, and The Sleazy Vegan serving up delicious plant-based comfort food right across from our booth!

Carbon Foodprint Quiz

We drew people to our table by asking if they wanted to take our 3-question “carbon foodprint” quiz. The quiz opened the door for a conversation about how animal agriculture harms the environment.

Hardly anyone got Question #3 right — giving us the perfect chance to highlight the climate impact of dairy, which ranks just behind beef.

Water + Carbon + Nitrogen Footprint of Food

Our impactful poster, created using data from the UNH Sustainability Institute, conveyed how resource-intensive and polluting animal-based products are compared to plant-based food,  

Goodie Bags

We handed out bags containing vegan literature geared toward climate and an assortment of GoMacro MiniBars — delicious vegan protein bars with a biodegradable wrapper.

Thank you to all our supporters and everyone who stopped by to learn about the incredible toll animal agriculture takes on our precious Earth.

Spring Legislative Update

Posted on by Joan OBrien in In the News

Thank you to everyone who took action on legislation this winter by contacting lawmakers, attending hearings, or submitting online testimony.

If only legislative outcomes were determined by a majority vote from the public, animals would win every time. But unfortunately it is typically a powerful few who determine the outcome for animals.

Below is the status report for bills we actively supported or opposed.

House Bill 152 – Prohibiting the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps

The House of Representatives voted 190–140 to “Indefinitely Postpone” this bill. A vote of Indefinitely Postpone ensures that the bill cannot be re-introduced the following year.

Prior to the House vote, the Environment and Agriculture Committee voted 9-5 to kill the bill (Inexpedient to Legislate).

Majority Report: Rep. Judy Aron for the Majority of Environment and Agriculture. Rodents and rodent infestation are a problem. Rodents carry diseases like the black plague. In the interest of public health, the majority of the committee sides with the health of human beings over rodents. Testimony demonstrated that glue traps are an effective way to monitor and capture rodents. Glue traps/glue boards are an effective non chemical (non poisonous) means to control rodents in places where food is stored and prepared, and in facilities where there are children and senior citizens. They are an important part of an integrated pest management plan. Eliminating their use would be very problematic for those places. Glue boards are also used to control pests like cockroaches and other insects, and while this bill bans them for use for rodents, how can you enforce one use over another? Additionally, you cannot control where people purchase these glue traps. It would be simple for people to buy them over the internet or go to a neighboring state to purchase them. Furthermore, any way that you kill a rodent can be considered cruel. Snap traps are cruel if they do not snap the rodent in the correct way. Cats killing rodents can also be considered cruel, so is drowning rodents in a bucket of water. Sealing openings and using other exclusionary techniques do not always work, as rodents will in time find new entrances, and rodent contraception takes a long time to be effective. The majority of the committee believes that non target species would not get ensnared in glue traps if the product is used as directed on the package by the consumer and that more public education is needed. Overall, the majority felt that people who do not wish to use these products are free not to use them, but we cannot deny everyone else the ability to use an effective non chemical means of controlling rodents if they feel that works best for their rodent problem.

Minority Report: Nicholas Germana for the Minority of Environment and Agriculture. Adhesive traps, or glue traps, are a very old, very basic, very primitive form of pest control. Animals (not just rodents) who are caught in these traps suffer agonizing deaths. The minority of the committee recognizes the importance of being able to effectively manage rodent populations; fortunately, there are a wide variety of affordable, non-chemical pest control options on the market. This bill keeps coming back to the legislature because there is a demand among our constituents to stop this practice – online testimony was nearly 30:1 in favor of this bill (295 to 10). The minority of the committee believes that time is now.

House Bill 201 – Prohibiting the removal of claws from cats

The House of Representatives voted 191-177 to kill this bill (Inexpedient to Legislate).

Prior to the House vote, the Environment and Agriculture Committee voted 9-7 to kill the bill (Inexpedient to Legislate).

Majority Report: Rep. Judy Aron for the Majority of Environment and Agriculture. This bill is a solution in search of a problem. The majority of the committee voted Inexpedient to Legislate because there is no real need to ban this procedure or codify harsh penalties to veterinarians. We do not have statistics that demonstrate that NH has a problem with our veterinarians performing cat declawing procedures for non medical reasons. In fact, we heard testimony from NH veterinarians that the overwhelming majority of NH veterinarians already discourage or do not offer cat declawing procedures and instead work with cat owners to use behavior modification and other techniques to prevent the cat from scratching family members or destroying property. When those techniques fail, and the veterinarian determines that declawing is the only remaining solution (aside from rehoming or euthanasia) then that should remain a choice between the cat owner and the veterinarian. If an owner has tried all methods available to cease chronic scratching and if declawing was made illegal, their options would be to: abandon the cat, rehome it to an unsuspecting home, or surrender it to a shelter, or they might even take their cat to a state where cat declawing is not banned. The committee heard in testimony that cat declaw procedures are only done by NH veterinarians when medically necessary for the cat, or for instances when cat owners have medical conditions that could be life threatening if they are scratched by their cats (i.e. on blood thinners, etc.), or if it is an absolute last resort to chronic cat scratching behaviors. We also heard that modern techniques, such as laser surgery yield better and much safer results than techniques used in the past, and that declawed cats can and do live long, healthy, and happy lives. Most importantly, the majority felt very strongly that we as a legislature should not go down the road of removing autonomy from NH veterinarians and dictating to them what procedures they can and cannot offer. Our licensed veterinarians have the knowledge, experience, and wisdom to work with their clients to determine what procedures are the right ones for their pets and the legislature should not interfere with that relationship. We also understand that certain animal activist organizations are flooding state legislatures across the country with these types of bills and once they get one procedure banned they continue to try to ban others, and they use these campaigns to fundraise. For all these reasons, and more, the majority in the committee voted to Inexpedient to Legislate this bill.

Minority Report: Rep. Nicholas Germana for the Minority of Environment and Agriculture. While reliable statistics are not available, the committee heard testimony, even from opponents of the bill, that this procedure is performed in New Hampshire. The committee heard a great deal of testimony from veterinary professionals and members of the public about the profound adverse effects that cats can suffer as a result of this procedure. The minority of the committee concludes that unnecessary declawing is inhumane and, however infrequently it might occur, should not be permitted in New Hampshire.

House Bill 251 – Allowing the ownership of certain squirrels and raccoons

The House of Representatives voted 226–115 to “Lay on Table.” Laying a bill on the table postpones voting indefinitely, avoiding debate and the need for lawmakers to choose a side.

Prior to the House vote, the Environment and Agriculture Committee voted 12–2 to kill the bill (Inexpedient to Legislate).

Committee Report: Rep. Kevin Scully for Environment and Agriculture. The committee is sympathetic to the intent of this bill, an attempt to save squirrels and raccoons that can’t be returned to the wild, after being rehabilitated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, by allowing them to be kept as pets. The committee listened to all testimony and felt the experts from our Fish and Game Department made a compelling argument that these animals, despite any injuries, remain wild. The bill also sought to allow people who move into our state to be allowed to keep their pet gray squirrel or pet raccoon if they are coming from a state that allows such pets. We saw that the Fish and Game statute RSA 207:14 allows for a permitting process for people bringing wildlife into NH, so it is possible for people coming into the state with their wild animal to apply for a permit. We also heard testimony that gray squirrels and raccoons pose a heightened risk, particularly since there is no trustworthy rabies vaccine regimen has been developed for this species of wildlife.

House Bill 401 – Relative to animal testing funded by New Hampshire state fund

The Environment and Agriculture Committee was unanimous (14-0) in voting this bill Inexpedient to Legislate.

Committee Report: Rep. Lisa Freeman for Environment and Agriculture. Essentially, this bill presents as a solution looking for a problem. New Hampshire, currently, has to our knowledge, only one in-state cosmetics company and it has voluntarily committed not to perform testing on animals. They are a private business and do not receive state funds. Further, there was no tangible evidence that our state funds any type of animal testing anywhere in our state in relation to this bill. Finally, in-state colleges and universities must comply with federal Animal Welfare Act legislation and standards pertaining to any animal testing or research. The committee unanimously agreed that we do not believe that there is the type of animal testing occurring in New Hampshire that this bill is concerned about, nor are any state funds are being used to support said testing. Lastly, we were concerned about the repeated testimony from supporters that they wanted to put this legislation in place and be able to expand on it in the future. For those reasons, we unanimously rejected this legislation.

House Bill 589 – Defining and prohibiting wanton animal waste and prohibiting certain wildlife hunting contests

The House of Representatives voted this bill Inexpedient to Legislate by a voice vote. 

Prior to the House vote, the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee voted 12–3 to kill the bill (Inexpedient to Legislate).

Majority Report: Rep. Paul Tudor for the Majority of Fish and Game and Marine Resources. This bill does two things, first it makes it illegal to intentionally leave a wounded or killed animal in the field or forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal. Second, it prohibits wildlife killing contests. During testimony we heard from fish and game that this was not really a problem in New Hampshire and that they were planning on dealing with it with rules. It was the position of the majority that rules were the best place to deal with these issues.

Minority Report: Rep. Loren Foxx for the Minority of Fish and Game and Marine Resources. The minority believes that wanton waste and killing contests are not acceptable hunting practices as outlined in the pillars of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which states that “wildlife must only be killed for a legitimate, non-frivolous purpose.” It is essential that we address these issues for the well-being and conservation of New Hampshire’s outdoors. We agree with this important legislation, which mandates that Fish and Game address the issues though their rule making process.

House Bill 593 – Relative to loss of consortium involving pets

The House Judiciary Committee was unanimous (11-0) in voting this bill Inexpedient to Legislate.

Committee Report: Rep. Donald McFarlane for Judiciary. This bill seeks to expand the definition of “loss of consortium” to include pets, allowing pet owners to claim damages for the loss or impairment of companionship with their animals. Whereas the committee acknowledges the deep emotional bonds between individuals and their pets, several concerns have led to the recommendation that this bill is inexpedient to legislate. The bill fails sufficiently to define pet, and fails to clarify which relations, by ownership or otherwise, of the pet would be able to claim loss of consortium. The bill would limit owners in what they can do with their own animals, in ways which are clearly undesirable. The bill would expand potential liabilities in the case of veterinary care, leading to higher costs for veterinary care, pet grooming and other pet-related services. Traditionally, animals are classified as property under the law. Altering this classification to recognize pets similarly to human relationships could have far-reaching legal implications, potentially affecting areas such as property rights, liability, and insurance. Expanding loss of consortium claims to include pets may lead to increased litigation. This could inadvertently impact pet owners, service providers, and the legal system, creating burdens that outweigh the intended benefits of the bill. Current laws already provide avenues for pet owners to seek compensation in cases of intentional or negligent harm to their animals. To the extent that there is a need to increase the provisions for such damages, this bill is not the appropriate mechanism to achieve that end. Given all of these considerations, the committee believes that the potential negative consequences of enacting this bill outweigh the benefits.

Overall, it has been a frustrating legislative session for those seeking better protections for animals. However, we must celebrate the fact that issues such as cat declawing and glue traps even came before lawmakers and had as much support as they did.

NHARL Protests Reptile Expo

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

While much of Manchester was enjoying the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 30, 2025, just blocks away at the DoubleTree Hotel, countless snakes, turtles, and geckos were being sold at the Reptile Expo — many of them packed into plastic deli containers and handed over to buyers with little or no knowledge of how to care for them.

NHARL held a peaceful protest outside the event to expose the hidden cruelty of the pet reptile trade. Holding signs reading “Animals Are Not Merchandise” and “Skip the Reptile Expo,” we urged attendees to reconsider the ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity.

We stood on the corner of Elm and Pleasant St., where the parade ended, so our signs were seen by everyone in the parade! 

The cruelty of reptile shows

Reptile shows exploit reptiles and amphibians for profit, disregarding animal welfare, public health, and conservation concerns.

These expos pack convention centers with vendors who confine snakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and other animals in tiny containers — treating them as products rather than living beings.

Beyond the immediate stress and suffering animals endure at the show, reptile expos fuel the harmful captive reptile trade, leading to widespread animal neglect and ecological harm.

Rewards to Raise Awareness

At our Let’s Talk Turtles! event in March, wildlife biologist Josh Megyesy explained that the illegal pet trade poses a serious threat to New Hampshire’s turtle populations, with endangered species commanding especially high prices.

We put the reptile dealers on alert by handing out close to 200 of these postcards to individuals and groups headed to the Reptile Expo. A generous NHARL member is funding the rewards. 

Uninformed Buyers, Unintended Cruelty

A big concern with reptile shows is how how easily reptiles are sold to people with little understanding of their complex needs.

When we asked a young boy where the crested gecko he had just purchased came from, he said, “I have no idea.” 

We saw people walking out with snakes tucked inside their sweatshirts — not even in containers.

Two men carrying a tortoise to their car admitted it was an impulse buy.

Animals are not products — they are sentient beings who have a right not to be taken from their natural home and held captive.

A Behind-the-Scenes Report

From a friend of NHARL:

I used to work these [reptile expos] 15 years ago and will tell you first hand that the reptile trade is AWFUL. So sad.

  • Tons of wild caught that don’t make it in transport. When they do make it, good luck getting them to eat.

  • Captive bred has their own issues. Breeding for looks and ignoring health issues associated with it. For example, when I was doing animal shows, ball python morphs were super popular. The spider morph will literally wobble and spin around, but ppl [people] bred for looks and didn’t care.

  • Wild or captive – selling baby snakes that haven’t even had their first meal yet.

  • Selling animals to anyone as long as they pay. Sure there are great people who love the animals, but the bad outweighs the good. Two great examples:

    1. Monocled Cobras, gaboon vipers, rattlesnakes, etc. in a plastic takeaway container, wrapped in duct tape for “security.” $75
    2. Vegetarian lizards being fed meat so they’re bigger for more money.

  • Tons of animals not even making it to the show. Seen tons of this, and the animals are just tossed.

  • Exotics being traded under the tables. I’ve seen skunks, toucans, opossums, monkeys, tons of crocodilians, etc.

  • People wanting to “look cool” by owning reptiles without educating themselves or even purchasing for kids who will neglect the animal.

  • I’m not gonna speak for all, but most will sell even if you have no set up or any idea what they’re doing.

  • …I worked at an exotic vet clinic for over ten years and reptiles are always treated the worst. Their husbandry is so specific and expensive, they’re crammed into tiny enclosures, since reptiles don’t ask for food etc., more than not, they’re thin, malnourished, sick. They’re also good at hiding illnesses. Impaction, rot, bone disease, etc.

Long story short, there is absolutely no reason for the ordinary person to “keep” reptiles in cages. Definitely not any reason that benefits them, unless it’s conservation efforts, or a rescue situation.
And this is not that.

I think people think they’re “rescuing” an animal by purchasing it. But your purchase directly funds their practices. They will replace the one you buy with another deli cup they have waiting in line under their table. Trust me.

Imagine spending your entire life alone in a tank — unable to fully stretch your limbs, go for a walk, or engage in other natural behaviors.

Full House for Let’s Talk Turtles!

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Note: The above photo features a permanently disabled wild animal who is given sanctuary at NH Turtle Rescue. In return for a safe and enriched captive life, these animals help to educate our community about wildlife and environmental conservation.

Turtles look tough, but they are in trouble. So in 2024, we launched the Turtle Brigade — a dedicated team on a mission to protect New Hampshire turtles from dangerous, human-made threats like busy roads.

On March 1, 2025 we welcomed wildlife biologist Josh Megyesy for a talk about turtle conservation in the Granite State followed by a discussion of the Turtle Brigade’s Spring 2025 turtle-saving plans!

Josh Megyesy delivered an outstanding presentation on New Hampshire’s turtles.

We were thrilled to also have special guests Dallas Huggins and Drew Stevens from NH Turtle Rescue joining us! The NH Turtle Rescue is the only facility in the state directly working on local turtle rehabilitation, conservation, and research.

Drew and Dallas with an “ambassador turtle” — a permanently disabled wild animal who is given sanctuary at NH Turtle Rescue. In return for a safe and enriched captive life, these animals help to educate our community about wildlife and environmental conservation.

Sponsor a Turtle Crossing

For a small donation, you can sponsor a turtle crossing and have it named in your honor — an enduring way to help protect NH’s turtles.

A turtle crossing consists of two metal signs, on opposite sides of the road, at the start and end of a known turtle crossing zone.

Some Takeaways from Josh’s Talk

Threats to NH Turtles & Conservation Strategies:

  • Habitat loss and road mortality significantly impact turtle populations. Turtles often nest in residential areas, because that’s where they can still find open, flat spaces. The journey to these locations may involve crossing roads and other perils. When a turtle habitat is surrounded by human development, turtles can no longer come and go, making it impossible to sustain a diverse, healthy population.
  • The illegal pet trade is a serious issue. The illegal wildlife trade is the fifth-largest contraband trade, just behind narcotics. Some NH turtles, like the wood turtle, are highly prized. A single adult wood turtle can sell for up to $900 due to demand, primarily from China. Enforcing wildlife protection laws is challenging, and weak penalties mean offenders often continue breaking the law.

How You Can Help:

  • Report turtle sightings. Go to Reporting NH Reptile and Amphibian Sightings or contact Josh at Joshua.Megyesy@wildlife.nh.gov.
  • Advocate for land conservation. Large preserved areas reduce threats like habitat fragmentation, human interaction, and predation from animals like raccoons.
  • Get involved with your town’s conservation commission or planning board to ensure turtles and other wildlife are considered in development projects.
  • Support better wetland crossings in road construction and seasonal timing for land management to minimize turtle risks.
  • Create or enhance nesting habitats. Many turtles lay eggs in residential areas or roadsides, increasing their risk. If you own land, consider adding a sand mound (as shown during the presentation) to provide safe nesting spots.
  • Take advantage of conservation programs. The NRCS Initiative offers incentives to landowners for habitat improvements and best management practices (BMPs).

Special thanks to Lynn Kavanagh of You’ll Eat It and Like It who baked and delivered the delicious vegan berry tarts, muffins, and breads, and to the Hilton Garden Inn Manchester for donating the use of the room!