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Fire In The Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean
Sea turtles have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. But now, suddenly, the turtles are dying, ravaged by a mysterious plague that some biologists consider the most serious epidemic now raging in the natural world. Perhaps most important, sea turtles aren't the only marine creatures falling prey to deadly epidemics. Over the last few decades diseases have been burning through nearshore waters around the world with unprecedented lethality.
What is happening to the sea turtle, and how can it be stopped? In this fascinating scientific detective story, Osha Gray Davidson tracks the fervent efforts of the extraordinary and often quirky scientists, marine biologists, veterinarians, and others racing against the clock to unravel a complicated biological and environmental puzzle and keep the turtles from extinction. He follows the fates of particular turtles, revealing their surprisingly distinct personalities and why they inspire an almost spiritual devotion in the humans who come to know them. He also explores through vivid historical anecdotes and examples the history of man's relationship to the sea, opening a window onto the role played by humans in the increasing number of marine die-offs and extinctions.
Beautifully written, intellectually provocative, Fire in the Turtle House reveals how emerging diseases wreaking havoc in the global ocean pose an enormous, direct threat to humanity. This is science journalism at its best.
What is happening to the sea turtle, and how can it be stopped? In this fascinating scientific detective story, Osha Gray Davidson tracks the fervent efforts of the extraordinary and often quirky scientists, marine biologists, veterinarians, and others racing against the clock to unravel a complicated biological and environmental puzzle and keep the turtles from extinction. He follows the fates of particular turtles, revealing their surprisingly distinct personalities and why they inspire an almost spiritual devotion in the humans who come to know them. He also explores through vivid historical anecdotes and examples the history of man's relationship to the sea, opening a window onto the role played by humans in the increasing number of marine die-offs and extinctions.
Beautifully written, intellectually provocative, Fire in the Turtle House reveals how emerging diseases wreaking havoc in the global ocean pose an enormous, direct threat to humanity. This is science journalism at its best.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Osha Gray Davidson
17 books15 followersOsha Gray Davidson is a writer who focuses on energy, the environment and other social and human rights issues. He was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and grew up in Iowa, studying at the University of Iowa.
Osha Gray Davidson is an award-winning author of six books of non-fiction and more than a hundred articles on a range of topics. He covered the environment for Rolling Stone magazine and blogged on renewable energy at Forbes.com. His freelance work has also appeared in InsideClimate News, Grist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, Mother Jones and other publications. Davidson co-wrote the screenplay for the IMAX documentary Coral Reef Adventure and his photographs have appeared in Rolling Stone, InsideClimate News, Forbes.com, and elsewhere.
His Rolling Stone article about Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat fighting for the United States, was nominated for a National Magazine Award for feature writing. He was a finalist for both the Natural World Book Award (UK) and the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. Coral Reef Adventure was the highest grossing documentary film of 2003 and was voted Best Picture of 2003 by the Giant Screen Theatre Association. He is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and a Fellow at the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.
Davidson lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where he publishes the blog The Phoenix Sun, about renewable energy.
[Source: Wikipedia]
Osha Gray Davidson is an award-winning author of six books of non-fiction and more than a hundred articles on a range of topics. He covered the environment for Rolling Stone magazine and blogged on renewable energy at Forbes.com. His freelance work has also appeared in InsideClimate News, Grist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, Mother Jones and other publications. Davidson co-wrote the screenplay for the IMAX documentary Coral Reef Adventure and his photographs have appeared in Rolling Stone, InsideClimate News, Forbes.com, and elsewhere.
His Rolling Stone article about Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat fighting for the United States, was nominated for a National Magazine Award for feature writing. He was a finalist for both the Natural World Book Award (UK) and the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. Coral Reef Adventure was the highest grossing documentary film of 2003 and was voted Best Picture of 2003 by the Giant Screen Theatre Association. He is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and a Fellow at the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.
Davidson lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where he publishes the blog The Phoenix Sun, about renewable energy.
[Source: Wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 22, 2020
Look at this beauty:
Sea turtles are majestic and beautiful - and endangered. The way they live is mysterious to this day, they still have secrets we have not been able to uncover, their longevity being only one of the fascinating aspects of their lives. This book is taking readers on several diving expeditions, starting at Hawai'i to show us their habitats and people who have been trying to study and protect sea turtles all their lives. In the process, these people teach the author (and thus us readers) about these wonderful creatures and we get to see (albeit "only" second-hand) magnificent underwater landscapes. We learn about the fragility of the eco-system, the immense difficulties turtles face as soon as their mothers lay the eggs, how these ancient reptiles navigate the oceans - and about a new threat that makes their chances decrease even more.
Because what threatens the gentle giants is not just overfishing (turtle soup and aphrodisiacs on the black market), them ending up as by-catch of commercial fisheries, the urban sprawl that affects nesting sites (baby turtles hatch at night to follow the moon into the water, but nowadays often confuse street lamps with the moon, thus crawling in the wrong direction and dying in gutters instead of making it to sea) or the shocking decline of turtle grass (their habitat) - nope, we can now also add a deadly virus to the list.
The virus causes tumors to grow on the turtles. Humans started noticing that something was wrong back in the 70s. This book is from 2001. It tells the whole story of the discovery of the tumors, documentation of what's happening, the establishing of hypotheses, finding out what's causing the mass-dying (consider that once upon a time, turtles were so huge in numbers that ships had to stop until their groups had passed and were out of the way) and, ultimately, finding a way to fight the Fibropapilloma virus (FP).
But the book is also a love letter to these wonderful animals and the plea for people to do more to help save them from extinction.
What I loved was the blend of scientific studies and discoveries, accounts of the history of the species, an even more detailed account of what's been happening since the 70s including measures that are taken nowadays, combined with folklore and a kind of travel blog that is witness to the author's love for turtles.
The writing style was very engaging and the photographs strewn in (though in black-and-white and printed on normal paper) made this a wonderful reading experience despite the dire subject matter.
Sea turtles are majestic and beautiful - and endangered. The way they live is mysterious to this day, they still have secrets we have not been able to uncover, their longevity being only one of the fascinating aspects of their lives. This book is taking readers on several diving expeditions, starting at Hawai'i to show us their habitats and people who have been trying to study and protect sea turtles all their lives. In the process, these people teach the author (and thus us readers) about these wonderful creatures and we get to see (albeit "only" second-hand) magnificent underwater landscapes. We learn about the fragility of the eco-system, the immense difficulties turtles face as soon as their mothers lay the eggs, how these ancient reptiles navigate the oceans - and about a new threat that makes their chances decrease even more.
Because what threatens the gentle giants is not just overfishing (turtle soup and aphrodisiacs on the black market), them ending up as by-catch of commercial fisheries, the urban sprawl that affects nesting sites (baby turtles hatch at night to follow the moon into the water, but nowadays often confuse street lamps with the moon, thus crawling in the wrong direction and dying in gutters instead of making it to sea) or the shocking decline of turtle grass (their habitat) - nope, we can now also add a deadly virus to the list.
The virus causes tumors to grow on the turtles. Humans started noticing that something was wrong back in the 70s. This book is from 2001. It tells the whole story of the discovery of the tumors, documentation of what's happening, the establishing of hypotheses, finding out what's causing the mass-dying (consider that once upon a time, turtles were so huge in numbers that ships had to stop until their groups had passed and were out of the way) and, ultimately, finding a way to fight the Fibropapilloma virus (FP).
But the book is also a love letter to these wonderful animals and the plea for people to do more to help save them from extinction.
What I loved was the blend of scientific studies and discoveries, accounts of the history of the species, an even more detailed account of what's been happening since the 70s including measures that are taken nowadays, combined with folklore and a kind of travel blog that is witness to the author's love for turtles.
The writing style was very engaging and the photographs strewn in (though in black-and-white and printed on normal paper) made this a wonderful reading experience despite the dire subject matter.
June 6, 2020
Beginning in the late 1970s, green sea turtles were appearing in very high numbers with tumors on them. Turtles in Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean, independently. There weren’t many, but there were a few, who wanted to find out what was causing this.
Sea turtles (or any turtles) are one animal I’ve not read much about. Although, this was more about digging to find what was causing the tumors. (I’ll give you two (broad) guesses and the first one doesn’t count.) This book was published in 2001; I can’t imagine things have gotten better in the meantime. This has been on my tbr for ages – I have no idea why it took me so long to read it.
Sea turtles (or any turtles) are one animal I’ve not read much about. Although, this was more about digging to find what was causing the tumors. (I’ll give you two (broad) guesses and the first one doesn’t count.) This book was published in 2001; I can’t imagine things have gotten better in the meantime. This has been on my tbr for ages – I have no idea why it took me so long to read it.
September 30, 2012
I have been fortunate enough to swim with sea turtles; aside from seeing several at a distance on my various adventures to the Bahamas, I swam with a large green turtle for an extended period of time. This gentle giant gracefully glided through the turquoise waters, dodging large outcroppings of coral as he moseyed on his way. I kept a safe distance (harassing endangered species isn't really my thing) but after about 15 minutes, I apparently got a little too close for comfort and he took off with a speed that was beguiled by his bulk. I have encountered many marine creatures but, to this day, swimming with this prehistoric relic remains a highlight for me.
I have known for some time that the fate of sea turtles is in the balance - overfishing for consumption and sale on the black market, unfortunate by-catch of commercial fisheries, urban sprawl that affects nesting sites, and the shocking decline of their habitat (appropriately named turtle grass) have all combined to form a near insurmountable challenge for turtles that were once so abundant that ships had to stop and wait for groups of them to pass. What I didn't know was that a deadly virus can be added to these myriad threats.
Fibropapilloma virus (FP) entered the turtle scene with a splash in the 1970's when George Balazs too notice in the coastal waters of Hawaii. He meticulously tracked down the first documented occurrence of the tumors and then dedicated his life to determining the cause of the tumors, how they are transmitted, and what we can do to help. Fire in the Turtle House tells the story of FP from discovery through present day through the eyes of the scientists and volunteers who don't want to see this endangered species disappear for good.
I really love Davidson's writing style. I have also read The Enchanted Braid, and was once again struck by his unique ability to weave together stories of scientific research, historical anecdotes re: turtles and related species, and manage to thread honest emotion through it all. I also enjoyed that the book tells the story of FP but it also subtly reveals how scientific research is done: observation of tumors, hypothesis as to the cause, careful experimentation to support or reject the hypothesis, collaborations to conduct more complex research, workshops and meetings to discuss the findings and their implications, the dissemination of information, and finally large projects to protect the turtles based on sound science.
If you are interested in sea turtles, or marine epidemics, I whole-heartedly recommend this book. If you are simply interested in reading a science book that is fantastically written, then I whole-heartedly recommend Osha Gray Davidson!
I have known for some time that the fate of sea turtles is in the balance - overfishing for consumption and sale on the black market, unfortunate by-catch of commercial fisheries, urban sprawl that affects nesting sites, and the shocking decline of their habitat (appropriately named turtle grass) have all combined to form a near insurmountable challenge for turtles that were once so abundant that ships had to stop and wait for groups of them to pass. What I didn't know was that a deadly virus can be added to these myriad threats.
Fibropapilloma virus (FP) entered the turtle scene with a splash in the 1970's when George Balazs too notice in the coastal waters of Hawaii. He meticulously tracked down the first documented occurrence of the tumors and then dedicated his life to determining the cause of the tumors, how they are transmitted, and what we can do to help. Fire in the Turtle House tells the story of FP from discovery through present day through the eyes of the scientists and volunteers who don't want to see this endangered species disappear for good.
I really love Davidson's writing style. I have also read The Enchanted Braid, and was once again struck by his unique ability to weave together stories of scientific research, historical anecdotes re: turtles and related species, and manage to thread honest emotion through it all. I also enjoyed that the book tells the story of FP but it also subtly reveals how scientific research is done: observation of tumors, hypothesis as to the cause, careful experimentation to support or reject the hypothesis, collaborations to conduct more complex research, workshops and meetings to discuss the findings and their implications, the dissemination of information, and finally large projects to protect the turtles based on sound science.
If you are interested in sea turtles, or marine epidemics, I whole-heartedly recommend this book. If you are simply interested in reading a science book that is fantastically written, then I whole-heartedly recommend Osha Gray Davidson!
February 4, 2015
This was a very interesting and frightening book. It is the story of an epidemic of fibropapillomatosis (a form of cancer) among green sea turtles (and spreading to other species) in the 1980s and 1990s. By the time of the second printing in 2003 it seemed to have declined and the turtle stocks were rising again.
The biggest problem with the book was a certain lack of focus near the beginning. After a prologue describing the disease, the first chapter talks about the first discovery of the disease at the New York Aquarium in the 1930's; it was then a very rare disease. But than the second chapter turns to the struggle in the 1970s to ban turtle fishing in Hawaii and ultimately to protect the turtle under the U.S. Endangered Species Act; this is somewhat relevant background, as the same person, George Balasz, who led that struggle also played a key role in studying the epidemic, but at the time it seems like a digression. The ending of the second chapter leads you to think that the third chapter will come back to the disease, but instead it begins with a standard catalog of conservation horror stories (bison, carrier pigeon, etc.) and a detailed history of the extermination of the Stellar's sea cow, then returns to the overhunting of the green sea turtle in the Caribbean in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The fourth chapter then deals with the pollution of Monterey Bay, California, and then the problem of trawling in the oceans; this chapter doesn't mention turtles at all. After a fifth of the book, it then returns to the outbreak of the epidemic in chapter five. All this is certainly interesting, and some partsof it may be less known than others; and it is all context in a large sense to the story, but not directly enough to justify the length of it. Perhaps she could have compressed it and put it in where it fits into the story. It seems as though she isn't sure whether she's writing a book about the epidemic or a general history of turtle conservation or a book on human destruction of the environment.
The remainder of the book is about the finding of the epidemic, first in Hawaii, then in Florida, and the search for it's causes. Naturally, the scientists (and amateur Turtleheads) involved were fighting against the odds, the lack of interest and funding on the part of the government conservation agencies, etc. This part was the most interesting as it was what the book was really about.
The biggest problem with the book was a certain lack of focus near the beginning. After a prologue describing the disease, the first chapter talks about the first discovery of the disease at the New York Aquarium in the 1930's; it was then a very rare disease. But than the second chapter turns to the struggle in the 1970s to ban turtle fishing in Hawaii and ultimately to protect the turtle under the U.S. Endangered Species Act; this is somewhat relevant background, as the same person, George Balasz, who led that struggle also played a key role in studying the epidemic, but at the time it seems like a digression. The ending of the second chapter leads you to think that the third chapter will come back to the disease, but instead it begins with a standard catalog of conservation horror stories (bison, carrier pigeon, etc.) and a detailed history of the extermination of the Stellar's sea cow, then returns to the overhunting of the green sea turtle in the Caribbean in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The fourth chapter then deals with the pollution of Monterey Bay, California, and then the problem of trawling in the oceans; this chapter doesn't mention turtles at all. After a fifth of the book, it then returns to the outbreak of the epidemic in chapter five. All this is certainly interesting, and some partsof it may be less known than others; and it is all context in a large sense to the story, but not directly enough to justify the length of it. Perhaps she could have compressed it and put it in where it fits into the story. It seems as though she isn't sure whether she's writing a book about the epidemic or a general history of turtle conservation or a book on human destruction of the environment.
The remainder of the book is about the finding of the epidemic, first in Hawaii, then in Florida, and the search for it's causes. Naturally, the scientists (and amateur Turtleheads) involved were fighting against the odds, the lack of interest and funding on the part of the government conservation agencies, etc. This part was the most interesting as it was what the book was really about.
June 17, 2014
This book brought awareness to me in seeing the need for environmental conservation effort, especially right before I went on a trip for a sea turtle conservation project. It gave me the context of where I stand as volunteer “conservationist” – to speak out for the unspeakable, even just in small ways. The author wrote with such passion that it is almost impossible not to respond likewise. His genuine concern for the extent of the pandemic faced by sea turtles and thousands of other marine species was consistent throughout the 200 pages of scientific report he wrote. He described personal encounter with these marine animals and delved into a scientific investigation of the history of the sea turtle conservation effort throughout the last few decades, perfectly weaved together to blatantly bring out the critical nature of the issue. Humans are usually too slow to respond to such catastrophic decline in biodiversity, only until they start to impact our daily lives.
April 2, 2018
I had just finished reading “Fire in the Turtle House” by Osha Gray Davidson, an intriguing novel about fibropapillomatosis (FP), a tumorous disease infecting sea turtles. Recently, I completed a research project on sea turtles, and conveniently reading this book assisted me with additional information on this topic. This book covers the issue on the FP disease, which can often lead to problems with eyesight and affects their ability to swim, eat, avoid dangers, that can leave sea turtles weakened and vulnerable to predators. Although this book is very fascinating and informative about sea turtles and the conditions they encounter, it’s often difficult to keep me interested for long periods of time. The story also drags on and I think that if the book is more concise, it would keep readers more attracted. Davison also uses mature and scientific language, which appeals towards scientists and adults. “Fire in the Turtle House” expanded my knowledge on sea turtles and helped me greatly on my project. I rarely read nonfiction books, however I would consider reading other scientific research books.
January 7, 2025
I really thought the overly spiritual Prologue and the author's diction in the Prologue would make this a tough read for me but I much enjoyed this book. Davidson tells a complete story of what was known about FP up until the year 2000, and it's both fascinating and entertaining to see the scientific process unfold. If you like reading investigative science, marine ecology or wildlife disease topics this book is for you. I'm honored to have spent time interning and working in the UCF MTRG lab that Dr. Lew 'Doc' Ehrhart created!
March 5, 2022
This is a fascinating book about the decline of the sea turtle by a disease that causes tumors to grow all over their bodies. It spans from the time the first tumored turtles are recorded to the studies done around the world to try and discover what is causing the disease and how humans could be directly linked to the growths. For a non-fiction book, this is written exceptionally well and really draws you into the perilous state of not just the sea turtles but the ocean as a whole
July 13, 2022
This is a fascinating book about the decline of the sea turtle by a disease that causes tumors to grow all over their bodies. It spans from the time the first tumored turtles are recorded to the studies done around the world to try and discover what is causing the disease and how humans could be directly linked to the growths. For a non-fiction book, this is written exceptionally well and really draws you into the perilous state of not just the sea turtles but the ocean as a whole
November 8, 2018
Really relates my passion to my future career of becoming a veterinarian through environmental conservation and human activity impacts. Great read. Reads like a story, although learning a lot. Really inspires passion and dedication to your field.
June 14, 2017
Enthralling, sad, educational, and mind boggling in it's depth of research
June 25, 2015
The Turtle House is an area in the narrow channel separating Maui from the neighboring island of Moloka'i. Not surprisingly it is a haven for sea turtles, especially the green sea turtle that the locals call honu. And the honu are dying.
The book follows the search for the cause of rampant spread of the disease called FP, most notably characterized by the growth of tumors on the soft tissues of turtles. First noticed in the 1960s, proliferating in the 70s, and clearly epidemic by the 80s, FP has decimated green turtle populations in Hawai'i as well as in Florida. Davidson visits with the key researchers, examines the different investigations into the cause, and personalizes the scientific struggle to understand. In the end the answers are still uncertain, though viruses are clearly implicated, and dinoflagellate biotoxins, human-caused stresses from pollution and nutrient enrichment, and other factors also may be part of the complex genesis that spreads the disease.
Overall this book is well written. It does seem to veer off on tangents, such as stories about Stellar sea cows from a century before, Pfeisteria-based fish diseases, and other sidetracks that eventually are laced back into the turtle narrative with varying success. On a personal note, it was interesting to see mention of names like Archie Carr and Joanne Burkholder and others familiar to my own marine biology days.
One drawback to the book is that it was published in 2001 and thus is somewhat dated. It would be nice to know where the status of the investigation, and hopefully treatment, of FP stands now. Still, I would recommend this book for those who are interested in learning how science works in the complex real world, and how human factors can surreptitiously drive what appear to be nature impacts.
The book follows the search for the cause of rampant spread of the disease called FP, most notably characterized by the growth of tumors on the soft tissues of turtles. First noticed in the 1960s, proliferating in the 70s, and clearly epidemic by the 80s, FP has decimated green turtle populations in Hawai'i as well as in Florida. Davidson visits with the key researchers, examines the different investigations into the cause, and personalizes the scientific struggle to understand. In the end the answers are still uncertain, though viruses are clearly implicated, and dinoflagellate biotoxins, human-caused stresses from pollution and nutrient enrichment, and other factors also may be part of the complex genesis that spreads the disease.
Overall this book is well written. It does seem to veer off on tangents, such as stories about Stellar sea cows from a century before, Pfeisteria-based fish diseases, and other sidetracks that eventually are laced back into the turtle narrative with varying success. On a personal note, it was interesting to see mention of names like Archie Carr and Joanne Burkholder and others familiar to my own marine biology days.
One drawback to the book is that it was published in 2001 and thus is somewhat dated. It would be nice to know where the status of the investigation, and hopefully treatment, of FP stands now. Still, I would recommend this book for those who are interested in learning how science works in the complex real world, and how human factors can surreptitiously drive what appear to be nature impacts.
November 7, 2016
Ok so let's get down to business, this book review is on the book “Fire In The Turtle House”. Just letting you know that it has nothing to do with an actual house burning down. Instead the book is about the many species of turtles that are endanger.
So it all starts off with a young man scuba diving, seems fun at first but it gets serious. He is soon surrounded by a bunch of beautiful underwater creatures, sea turtles. Sadly this book isn't about how cute turtles are or about other underwater creatures. Instead it is about bring awareness to what is happening to these beautiful creatures. They are slowly going extinct. All because of these mysterious tumors spreading to all sea turtles around the world. The fire (disease) is pressing through the house (world). As much as people are trying to help it isn't an easy task to do. In the book they try to spread the word, that people should stop killing turtles because the disease is already killing them off. The book also talks about how it's been going on for a long time but no one has found the cause to it all they know is that it spreads fast and everywhere. The only way to remove the disease is to remove each and every tumor inter turtle but they can't save every turtle.
In conclusion ,this book informs you to be aware of these beautiful sea creatures because they are endangered. Many go out to kill them for food or for sport. “We are all children of the sea” let's save the turtles.
Ps. Pretty great book, check it out :)
-Ashley Ramirez
So it all starts off with a young man scuba diving, seems fun at first but it gets serious. He is soon surrounded by a bunch of beautiful underwater creatures, sea turtles. Sadly this book isn't about how cute turtles are or about other underwater creatures. Instead it is about bring awareness to what is happening to these beautiful creatures. They are slowly going extinct. All because of these mysterious tumors spreading to all sea turtles around the world. The fire (disease) is pressing through the house (world). As much as people are trying to help it isn't an easy task to do. In the book they try to spread the word, that people should stop killing turtles because the disease is already killing them off. The book also talks about how it's been going on for a long time but no one has found the cause to it all they know is that it spreads fast and everywhere. The only way to remove the disease is to remove each and every tumor inter turtle but they can't save every turtle.
In conclusion ,this book informs you to be aware of these beautiful sea creatures because they are endangered. Many go out to kill them for food or for sport. “We are all children of the sea” let's save the turtles.
Ps. Pretty great book, check it out :)
-Ashley Ramirez
December 13, 2007
Turtles have been swimming the seas for 240 million years; I am left dumbstruck at what the ancestors of these incredible creatures must have seen in the ocean world of that long ago. Turtles are curious and demonstrate behaviors that indicate they have thought through problems (particularly when it comes to avoiding sharks). This book is by a Pulitzer-nominee author who delves into the paleohistory of turtles and other ocean creatures who have now become extinct and talks about their precarious current status. In the 1940's-1950's it was noted that turtles started developing large soft tissue masses all over their bodies. Although not malignant these tumors ended up growing over their eyes and blinding them or around their appendages, thereby immobilizing them; and in the end these growths killed them. They are calling turtles the canaries of the oceans because they, like so many other creatures, are sensitive to the pollution we have been loading into the oceans. This was a shocking book in the sense of how close to extinction most turtle species are, and also fascinating to hear about the distinct personalities that turtles apparently have that have been noted by researchers. I loved this book, because I love turtles, but it also left me really, really scared for them and for the oceans and ultimately for us.
September 22, 2011
My daughter made a gift of Fire in the Turtle House by Osha Gray Davidson out of the blue. She spent some of an Amazon gift card that she had earned for babysitting the neighbor's turtle, frog, and cats. This was a sweet surpise that broke my heart because it describes a mysterious disease that has crippled sea turtles around the world.
Davidson traces the mysterious and deadly fibropapillamatosis tumors that have killed or crippled countless sea turtles around the world. He follows the paths of marine scientists who have sought to determine the cause of these tumors over the past century. His research and reporting journey took him around the world and deep into maritime history. Fire in the Turtle House is at once scientific, social, and political history book that ultimately points to human activity as the source of the problem that has led to the fibropapillamatosis tumors that have eaten giant holes into the sea turtle population around the world.
Fire in the Turtle House,/i> is a reminder that we can be as much a part of the solution to the environmental crises that have led to this marine epidemic as we have been a part of the problem. The book leaves us with the question, Will we be?
Davidson traces the mysterious and deadly fibropapillamatosis tumors that have killed or crippled countless sea turtles around the world. He follows the paths of marine scientists who have sought to determine the cause of these tumors over the past century. His research and reporting journey took him around the world and deep into maritime history. Fire in the Turtle House is at once scientific, social, and political history book that ultimately points to human activity as the source of the problem that has led to the fibropapillamatosis tumors that have eaten giant holes into the sea turtle population around the world.
Fire in the Turtle House,/i> is a reminder that we can be as much a part of the solution to the environmental crises that have led to this marine epidemic as we have been a part of the problem. The book leaves us with the question, Will we be?
July 15, 2024
Probably the best book I read this year. Was a totally random find on the side of the road on my walk home one day. Cracked it open not expecting anything and it quickly entered my top 10 books of all time. Not for the squeamish, and most definitley for the reptile-inclined. An engaging look into the world of turtle biology, the people who study them, and the changing world that they they inhabit. Sad and honest about the state of pollution and its effect on the environment, but hopeful for the future and an improved condition of our oceans.
October 31, 2016
I've always loved sea turtles and I love learning as much about them as I can. This book taught me a lot in general about them and also about the specific problems that directly affect them. Which is great!!! I love that it was written like a story to make it easier to engage with. This book helped me consider how I can help sea turtles (and other ocean creatures, obvi) from way up in Minnesota through caring for the Mississippi river and the great lakes, since they all connect to the ocean.
November 28, 2024
I read this book many years ago and it inspired me in a way that I can't describe and that doesn't actually make sense. The analysis is electric and full of passion. This book inspired me to put my whole heart and soul into a career I loved and believed in. Osha has a magical way of opening a big issue with a small story and then snowballing it into the readers hands like "ok, now what are YOU going to do." Truly a generational talent. Only four stars because I wish Osha would write more books.
July 23, 2007
This book talkes about an illness affecting all species of sea turtles. It is heart breaking, and the prediction is that all species of turtle may face extinction before 2020. The studies included in this book are very thought provoking. I tell everyone I know about this book. I think it is a must read just to keep up on what we do to our oceans. Its horrifying.
June 12, 2008
I had to read this for a biology class, but was impressed with how interesting and well put together this book is. Sooner or later this world is going to get fed up with mankind's ugly shit and rear back and buck us off.
December 11, 2007
Great book addressing the disease that sea turtles are plagued with. Somewhat dated as new research has come out since but a good read.
January 28, 2009
Very informative, inspiring read on the state of our oceans and the effect our actions have on the beautiful creatures within.
November 6, 2009
My favorite Book! I think that this book would be a great teaching tool for High School Science classes.
January 1, 2013
Really liked this book. I didn't realize how much of this book I learned in college reading papers and journals and things.
January 30, 2015
translated from the English, Fire in the Turtle House.
April 28, 2015
This book shows the difference one person can make. A tough read at times but worth it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews