Arianna Fobbs--Caught

Caught

Arianna Fobbs

© Copyright 2026 by Arianna Fobbs

All was serene on the bright summer day, clouds lazily drifted, and the sun was bright in the sky. Most adults were at work, and kids had already left on yellow school buses for their last weeks of school. It was not a sweltering summer hot day yet since it was the morning, and the sun just woke up in the sky a few hours ago. I pulled up to a little park in my car, and grabbed my beach site testing forms. This is the place I murmured to myself. Finally I had to turn around once already. As I get out I try not to be too hard on myself. Beach Site 1# is a small park with one tree and a trash can in between houses. I grab a cardboard water testing sign with stakes, and decide to put it next to the nice sized park oak tree for good visibility. Then I head back to my car to quickly grab my wader water suit, and beaker bottles, and wade into the water from the concrete steps one must take to enter the water at Beach Site 1#. The water looked almost like glass, so clear that you could see through to the bottom and see the clouds reflect from below back up at the sky. A lazy summer breeze blew over the water. The lake is see though for quite a few feet with not a plant to blemish its surface or sandy bottom. Having gathered my three beaker samples. I reluctantly climbed out of the water and trudged back to my car to take off my soaking wader water suit.

As I was packing up my waders, in my car and my samples into the cooler. A kindly elderly couple walks up to me. “Hello” Good morning I replied back. You look pretty young, they say, shouldn't you be in school? My face burns a bit in a sure blush. Actually it's summer break. I am in college. Oh they say. I move to explain myself holding up my badge. I am sampling lake water to make sure it is safe for swimming this summer as an internship. We test the e-coli bacteria levels and you can look it up on our beach site. I then point to the link on the sign I left at the park. Some of our data actually goes to the state for modeling. That is great. You know the other young people will be out here in a few weeks, and you should come back. They all like to go fishing on the lake and be in the boats. That sounds nice, this is a beautiful lake very clear. Do you by any chance know where the second lake entrance is? It's on the other side if you take a right, and another right on the street up there you should see it past a cul de sac. Thank you. I pack up my samples and get back in my car to drive around hoping that this next sample site is easier to spot.

It was quiet but peaceful as I drove around admiring a beautiful average looking metro suburban neighborhood. Houses were lined in neat little rows. Lawns mowed and edged into crisped lines not a weed or bush out of place. I was on a mission to find Beach Site 2# for water testing. I had just about reached my destination when I stopped my car abruptly.

Not moving in the middle of the street was a large painted turtle, the state reptile, its unique tell-tale colorful shell reflecting in the sunlight. I get out of my black car to take a look, and move the little guy out of the road, so he won't get hit by the next car or any garbage trucks that come by. As I get closer to inspect I realize that the turtle is caught in something it looks almost like a net or fishing line. The turtle seeing me approach tries to frantically get away desperately moving two of its webbed feet which draws my attention to the fishing line.

I realize the fishing line is not just tied around its shell, but also tied around its webbed feet restricting mobility. One foot completely can not exit the shell. I carefully pick the turtle up, and I hold the turtle by its shell the way that an ecologist showed me long ago as the turtle kicks and scratches at my palms until it stills itself realizing that I am trying to help set it free. I carefully carry it across the manicured park lawn to the tiny lake beach wrinkling my nose as I see discarded cans, bottle caps, and forgotten sand toys with new eyes as wildlife hazards. I set the turtle in the grass to let it go free. It turns back to look back at me with speculative eyes then takes off towards the lake. As I watch it swim away. I reflect on the lake it inhabits. Not many native plants are here. There are no open unmanicured green spaces for a turtle habitat. The lake is clean but crowded, full of boats and docks near neat rows of suburban houses. This lake should be, but it's not the best place for a turtle yet it is its home.

I think to myself I almost want to put up a sign that says take care of your fishing lines and trash for wildlife, but who knows if the warning will be headed as fully as it needs to be. I wish I could take it with me up north to a more rural area, and put it somewhere where it could be happier and away from trash with green forests and more wildlife. I think to myself, but it's not to be for it is not my job to collect wild turtles and move them. Besides, its community or turtle family is probably in this lake area and its home is here. It should not have to move away from us.

Arianna Fobbs recently graduated with a Degree in Plant Biology from Michigan State University. During her time in college she was a research assistant in multiple research labs and was a selected participant in the Kellogg Biological Station summer research program where she learned to properly handle turtles. She additionally finished writing the book “Disabled to Enabled” in college, a guide book with suggestions for how students can get through school with learning disabilities. She enjoys writing music scores, songs, poems and short stories for children or stories that just make one pause and reflect. She lives in the Metro Detroit area of the state of Michigan.

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