FARMINGTON — Western Maine Audubon is set to present a talk, “Everything you didn’t realize you needed to know about turtles in Maine,” by Dr. Matthew Chatfield.

Matt Chatfield with a spotted turtle. M. Chatfield photo

The free event is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in Thomas Auditorium, Preble Hall on the University of Maine at Farmington campus, at 173 High St. For those not able to attend in person, it will also be available live via Zoom.

The talk will be recorded and made available on the WMA website a few weeks after the presentation.

Turtles have existed for 230 million years and have proven extraordinarily resilient, even surviving the mass extinction event that killed off the non-avian dinosaurs. Despite their resilience, turtles are facing unprecedented challenges in the modern world and rank among the most endangered vertebrate groups on Earth,, according to a news release from Western Maine Audubon’s Will Jones.

This talk will explore the turtles of Maine — their biology, how to observe them, and what can be done to ensure their continued existence.

Wood turtle M. Chatfield photo

Chatfield is an assistant professor of evolution and eco-health at the University of Maine, where he studies the evolution, ecology and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. Chatfield also serves as the Principal Investigator of the Maine Wood Turtle Project.

For more information and the Zoom link, visit western.maineaudubon.org.

Check out other upcoming area events!