A Massachusetts turtle vanished for 10 years after its 2011 release, then returned as an adult to the same wild habitat; 15 years later, two of its captive-raised offspring were released there to continue the story

A Blanding’s turtle vanished into the wild for more than a decade. Ivy was released in Massachusetts in 2011 after being raised at Stone Zoo. Researchers feared they might never see her again. Then, in 2023, Ivy returned as a healthy adult. In 2025, she laid eight eggs. Now, two of her captive-raised offspring have been released into the same Great Meadows marsh, marking a major step for turtle conservation.