Turtle with a Figure
[WLTX-TV 2006-06-14]

(Branson, MO) - If you think littering is a victimless crime, think again.

Something as simple as a 6-pack ring can be harmful to wildlife.

Turtles are supposed to be round right? Not one particular turtle in Branson, Missouri.

"She's not a typical looking turtle," said conversation agent John Miller. "A turtle should look like a zero, not an eight."

The turtle, named Peanut, is now in her 20s. She spent a good portion of her life trapped in a 6-pack ring.

"If you can imagine a small child making a fist, that's the size she was, when she crawled into the ring," said Miller.

She could have become easy prey, but she survived.

"We have had her x-rayed and her lungs are what was greatly affected, and they should be two large ovals, and now they are like two butterflies," said Miller.

And, Miller says all of this could have been avoided.

"What we're asking people to do is before they recycle and throw them away cut every ring up before they discard the ring," Miller said. "The trash can isn't enough, if it blows over, it's back out into the environment, so cut the rings up. You'll save the lives of fish and birds and you'll keep this from ever happening to a turtle ever again."