Help Name Our New Animal Ambassador!

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center family—a Southwestern Pond Turtle! Born at the San Francisco Zoo on New Year’s Day in 2015, she joined us because she couldn’t be housed with males of her species. Effie Yeaw is now her safe, permanent home where she can relax, grow, and thrive. Now we need your help choosing the perfect name for her.

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All of our resident animals come to us only after licensed wildlife rehabilitators have determined they can’t be released back into the wild. Sometimes it’s because of an old injury, sometimes imprinting, and sometimes a medical condition that makes life on their own impossible. Thanks to your support, we’re able to give each of them a safe, healthy place to live and the lifelong care they deserve—and in turn, they help us inspire and educate our community about wildlife and conservation every single day.

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Our new turtle ambassador is one of those animals. She lives with a shell disease commonly found in wild turtles, often linked to the release of unwanted pets into natural waterways. With guidance from the San Francisco Zoo, she’s doing well under a strong health-care plan, and your support ensures she’ll remain healthy and comfortable for years to come.

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Southwestern Pond Turtles are native farther north than many people realize, with a range that reaches up to the San Francisco Bay Area—so she’s right at home here along the American River.

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When you vote for her name, your donation becomes more than a fun way to participate. Every gift directly supports the daily care our animal ambassadors depend on, including:

• Nutritious, species-appropriate meals
• Enrichment and training that keep them active and engaged
• Safe, naturalistic housing
• Expert veterinary care
• Essentials like fresh bedding, hides, perches, and proper temperature control.

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Your support helps our ambassadors live healthy, meaningful lives—and continue inspiring thousands of visitors, especially children, to care deeply about wildlife and the natural world.

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Name options:

• Myrtle

• Eve

• Lily

• Pebble

• Betsy (after Betsy Weiland)

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Cast your vote, help lift up an animal who depends on you, and join us in welcoming our new ambassador with a name filled with care and love.

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Thank you for helping us give these animals the safe and happy lives they deserve.