The Island’s oldest resident may well live in the woods of West Tisbury. Her name is Boxer.
Two nine-year-old girls have seen her. Lucy Hodgson and Amelia Krales saw the ancient woodland traveler at the start of the summer. The old lady was making her way down a narrow path in dense woods under dappled sunlight.
She is a very old box turtle.
Tom Hodgson, Lucy’s father, has read in science books that a box turtle can live for 130 years.
It was a sunny Wednesday afternoon when Bret Stearns, director of the natural resources department for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), got a call on his mobile phone. On the other end of the line was the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, which had just received a call about a sea turtle in distress about a mile southwest of Menemsha.
Mr. Stearns grabbed one of his assistants, Tyler Moreis, and headed for the water. On the way, they passed Aquinnah harbormaster Brian (Chip) Vanderhoop. They turned around, caught up to Chip, and enlisted his help.
Oscar Thompson has spent the summer chasing turtles for his senior thesis at college. Not known for their speed, painted turtles can still be elusive in their natural habitat deep within the Vineyard's ponds.
