Turtle Tries to Lay Eggs Near NYC Rink

NEW YORK - May 13, 2007 -- A determined turtle crawled up a flight of stairs and trudged toward Central Park's ice skating rink in an apparent urge to lay eggs near the rink, park officials said.

The 20-pound snapping turtle turned up near the Wollman Rink three times on Friday, according to park officials. The animal's first foray was at about 7:30 a.m., said Douglas Blonsky, the president of the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit group that manages the park.

The reptile was returned each time to a nearby pond, sometimes in a wheelbarrow.

Turtles are a common sight in Central Park. Their namesake Turtle Pond was redesigned in 1997 specifically to accommodate them and other animals. Among other changes was a new island with sandy spots suitable for turtles to lay eggs, according to the conservancy.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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