Dr. Kevin Aviles-Rodriguez – The New England Turtle Project
Dr. Kevin Avilés Rodríguez is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Fordham University in New York. Dr. Avilés Rodríguez’s research focuses on understanding how species respond to urbanization, biological invasions, and extreme weather events. Turtles are an important model to address these questions. Recently turtles have declined due to habitat loss and illegal harvesting by humans. As such, monitoring turtle communities has become necessary to conserve these species. The New England Turtle Project aims to characterize how urban wetlands impact turtle species and to develop new methods to aid turtle conservation. This project stems from a collaboration with Dr. Scott Buchanan, the state Herpetologist at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and a long-term turtle expert.
In 2022, Dr. Avilés Rodríguez and his students visited 27 wetlands across Rhode Island and Connecticut, including locations on WLT properties. Jada Henry is finishing a master thesis evaluating whether painted turtles’ body size, parasite, and shell damage differ between urban and non-urban wetlands. Painted turtles were chosen as their model as they are typically the more common turtle species in wetlands and readily occur in high density at both urban and non-urban wetlands. Ana Gomez’s research uses DNA analyses to infer the geographic source of the invasive turtles, red-eared and yellow-belly sliders, captured in New England. These species have been introduced via pet trade to nearly every continent and are listed as one of the worst invaders. This project aims to document the potential displacement and competition between invasive turtles and turtles native to New England. Dr. Kevin’s team is presently analyzing this data before undertaking future field endeavors. To learn more about Dr. Avilés Rodríguez’s research, visit the following website https://kevinjaviles.wordpress.com/research/.
To learn more about the scientists & stewards on our land click HERE.
❄️❄️ read the caption!
If you snapped any pics while exploring the snowy WLT trails, send them to [email protected] to be entered in our 2026 Calendar Photo Contest!
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #landtrust #hike #nature #outside #conservation #winter #snow #photography
❄️❄️ read the caption!
If you snapped any pics while exploring the snowy WLT trails, send them to [email protected] to be entered in our 2026 Calendar Photo Contest!
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #landtrust #hike #nature #outside #conservation #winter #snow #photography
📢 PAID SUMMER 2025 INTERNSHIPS 📢Thanks to the generous support from the Southeastern New England Educational and Charitable Foundation.
Will you help us find:
1.) a Conservation Programs Intern 🐛🦉who will assist with diverse tasks relating to environmental education and land stewardship, and
2.) a Sustainable Farming Intern🥕🌻who will assist in the daily operations of two working farms (Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers) located on WLT’s Barlow Nature Preserve.
🍅For more information and to apply, please follow the link in our bio and select “Join Our Team”!
Feel free to share this with your network of college students who are working towards degrees in environmental science, biology, education or a related field. 🌈🦋🌦️
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #landtrust #conservation #education #environmentaleducation #farming #internship #environmental #conservation #sustainableagriculture #agriculture
📢 PAID SUMMER 2025 INTERNSHIPS 📢Thanks to the generous support from the Southeastern New England Educational and Charitable Foundation.
Will you help us find:
1.) a Conservation Programs Intern 🐛🦉who will assist with diverse tasks relating to environmental education and land stewardship, and
2.) a Sustainable Farming Intern🥕🌻who will assist in the daily operations of two working farms (Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers) located on WLT’s Barlow Nature Preserve.
🍅For more information and to apply, please follow the link in our bio and select “Join Our Team”!
Feel free to share this with your network of college students who are working towards degrees in environmental science, biology, education or a related field. 🌈🦋🌦️
#westerlyri #rhodeisland #landtrust #conservation #education #environmentaleducation #farming #internship #environmental #conservation #sustainableagriculture #agriculture
Thank you @cinderrestaurant for a delicious night! 🌮
Our staff and family holiday party was so much fun last night! Such a cozy place to share laughs and yummy food! Thanks again, Cinder💚
Thank you @cinderrestaurant for a delicious night! 🌮
Our staff and family holiday party was so much fun last night! Such a cozy place to share laughs and yummy food! Thanks again, Cinder💚
Thank you @safetrailsfirstaid for providing a fantastic trailside first aid course. 🚑🩸
WLT staff and many of our dedicated volunteers received training in first aid, CPR/ AED, and Stop the Bleed to help us be prepared and keep each other safe while exploring the trails and beyond! 🌳
#firstaid #trailsafety #cpr #aed #training #westerlyri #wilderness #landtrust #conservation #safetyfirst
Thank you @safetrailsfirstaid for providing a fantastic trailside first aid course. 🚑🩸
WLT staff and many of our dedicated volunteers received training in first aid, CPR/ AED, and Stop the Bleed to help us be prepared and keep each other safe while exploring the trails and beyond! 🌳
#firstaid #trailsafety #cpr #aed #training #westerlyri #wilderness #landtrust #conservation #safetyfirst
🦉WHOOOOOOOO did we spot this week in the 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙣’𝙨 “𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧”?!? WLT’s very own Conservation Programs Coordinator Emma Stahl! Learn a bit more about our friend Emma by following the link in our bio and clicking “WLT in the News.”
🦉WHOOOOOOOO did we spot this week in the 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙣’𝙨 “𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧”?!? WLT’s very own Conservation Programs Coordinator Emma Stahl! Learn a bit more about our friend Emma by following the link in our bio and clicking “WLT in the News.”
Happy National Bird Day! 🦉🪶
❄️ As winter settles in, let’s lend a hand to our feathered friends. Keep bird feeders stocked with seeds, offer fresh water, and provide shelter with trees, shrubs, fallen branches, or birdhouses.
📸 Thanks to Jim Burke for the amazing bird shots!
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #winter
Happy National Bird Day! 🦉🪶
❄️ As winter settles in, let’s lend a hand to our feathered friends. Keep bird feeders stocked with seeds, offer fresh water, and provide shelter with trees, shrubs, fallen branches, or birdhouses.
📸 Thanks to Jim Burke for the amazing bird shots!
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #winter
Happy January!❄️
Are you looking for ways to get outside and stay connected with nature during the colder months?! We have some fun events coming up! Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to learn more about each event!
#winter #snow #hike #january #landtrust #nature #rhodeisland #westerlyri #stoningtonct #connecticut #conservation
Happy January!❄️
Are you looking for ways to get outside and stay connected with nature during the colder months?! We have some fun events coming up! Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to learn more about each event!
#winter #snow #hike #january #landtrust #nature #rhodeisland #westerlyri #stoningtonct #connecticut #conservation
As we reflect on all we accomplished in 2024 we want to say a big thank you to all of our amazing supporters. We couldn’t do all that we do without you!!
We are so excited to see what 2025 will bring!🎇
As we reflect on all we accomplished in 2024 we want to say a big thank you to all of our amazing supporters. We couldn’t do all that we do without you!!
We are so excited to see what 2025 will bring!🎇