AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2023 - 40

MARCIN WOLSKI
BRIEFING
MUSINGS /
My cat, Lyndsey,
is usually quite
curious and
fearless, to the
point of getting
herself in trouble.
She got about
30 feet from the
box and instantly
decided that heck
no, she wanted
nothing to do with
whatever was in
that box.
Flying turtles
Relocating red-eared sliders in a Cessna 185
BY DALE LONGMIRE
MY SISTER ROSE GUERRA is a naturalist and stays quite busy doing presentations
and leading field trips in North Georgia. My siblings and I frequently travel to
New Orleans to care for our mother. There is a turtle rescue group in Atlanta-the
Chattahoochee Nature Center-that rehabilitates wayward and injured turtles. So,
Rose takes turtles with her for release when driving from Atlanta to New Orleans.
Why relocate red-eared sliders? These turtles are very common in the
commercial pet trade and are the most popular pet turtle in the United States. But
they can grow to be 12-inch turtles, requiring much more care than owners may have
originally thought. Consequently, people often release their pets to the wild. Because
red-eared sliders are one of the most invasive species, they often outcompete native
turtles. It is against the law for the rescue groups to release animals outside their
native habitat. Hence, the reason for relocating to the Mississippi watershed.
After buying an airline ticket, Rose was asked if she could do a relocation run.
Since a smelly box of active turtles are hard to justify as emotional support animals,
and the TSA says they exceed the three-ounce liquid rule, Rose declined.
Having recently retired from my gig as a Part 121 captain, I returned to my roots
as a Louisiana seaplane pilot. I am once again qualified Part 135 with my former
employer, Southern Seaplane, in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. I have been proudly
working for SSI now through three generations of owners. Since our mother lives
a few minutes from SSI in suburban New Orleans, I frequently take my Cessna
185 wheel plane.
40
AOPA PILOT / November 2023
I was going to go to New Orleans in the 185
and asked if anyone wanted to ride along. Rose
was able to cancel her airline ticket and asked if
we could bring a load of turtles. I already had the
back seats out, so it was easy to do.
I live in Big T Airpark in Senoia, Georgia.
When Rose showed up with the large plastic
box of turtles, we put them in the hangar while
loading up the 185. My cat, Lyndsey, is usually
quite curious and fearless, to the point of getting
herself into trouble. I thought she would find the
turtles interesting. I brought her into the hangar;
she got about 30 feet from the box and instantly
decided that heck no, she wanted nothing to do
with whatever was in that box. Staying in the
house was just fine.
We secured the box in the 185 and
administered the appropriate reptile motion
sickness medication. (I made that part up.) They
rode without complaint or apparent distress for
the flight to Belle Chasse.
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2023

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