The people behind the turtle stories. Turtle Haven is a cooperative group of licensed wildlife rehabilitators throughout the state of Connecticut who all do home-based turtle rehab as volunteers in addition to their regular jobs and lives. Our four locations and rehabbers gives you a good chance to find a turtle expert near you for turtle emergencies. For non-emergencies, please use the Contact page to reach out.
Angelina – Lead Rehabber
& Founder of Turtle Haven
Northford, CT
(401) 316-2094
Can take all types of native turtles, including species listed as endangered, threatened, & special concern.
Librarian by day, turtle rehabber by night, Angelina has been an animal advocate and turtle enthusiast for as long as she can remember. She’s had pet turtles since 2006 (all rescues from bad situations) and became licensed to rehab wild turtles in 2019. She has volunteered for various sea turtle conservation efforts in the past, but her primary focus now is helping freshwater turtles that call Connecticut home, as they are often maligned, ignored, or misunderstood. She is qualified to be a mentor to other people seeking to get their rehab license for turtles from the CT DEEP.
Jolene – Rehabber
Southington, CT
(860) 302-9319
Can take painted, snapping, and musk turtles. Other species accepted in a pinch if other listed species rehabbers are not available.
Jolene is a lifelong conservationist who loves all creatures great and small. She has a passion for protecting native animals and plants and teaching youth to be ecologically responsible stewards. She and her husband, Jay, live in their tiny rescue zoo which includes their 3 children. She is also the snapping turtle whisperer, helping soothe and heal many a living dinosaur.
Linda – Rehabber
Woodbridge, CT
(914) 441-7226
Can take painted, snapping, and musk turtles. Other species accepted in a pinch if other listed species rehabbers are not available.
Linda has loved turtles since childhood, when she and her dad would stop to help them cross the road. Since then, she has traveled to Costa Rica to release baby sea turtles and to the Galápagos Islands to see giant tortoises in the wild. At home, she’s spent the past 20 years with Maizy, her beloved Russian tortoise. Wanting to give back to the turtles in her own backyard, Linda apprenticed with Turtle Haven and is now a licensed rehabilitator, caring for Connecticut’s native turtles. Linda is also the fairy godmother of long-term patients, providing safety, patience, and enrichment for those shelled souls needing a little bit extra to thrive.
Deidre – Rehabber
Wethersfield, CT
(860) 707-5347
Can take painted and musk turtles along with small-medium snapping turtles (<20lbs).
Deidre is an artist who loves reptiles and wildlife. She is experienced in wound care and is a long-term caregiver for people and animals. She is forever learning and experimenting to bring fresh ideas and new possibilities from human healthcare into the rehab sphere. Though limited presently in physical patient capacity to only a few smaller turtles, she pours her heart into the care of each one, delighting in all of their unique personalities.
Turtle Haven 