Larry Andrews accepting the Director's Certificate of Appreciation from Hatchery Manager Kerry Graves.

Jamie Andrews marking young of the year Alligator Snapping Turtles before releasing them into Cottonwood Pond.

A Tishomingo NWR partnership with volunteer Larry Andrews and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has seen the release of 395 young of the year Alligator Snapping Turtles into refuge waters since 2001. Mr. Andrews is permitted by the ODWC to raise Alligator Snapping Turtles and release them at Tishomingo NWR (part of the historical range for the Alligator Snapping Turtle). Mr. Andrews has also developed an educational outreach in the State of Oklahoma to raise awareness of the plight of the turtles and provides all of the financial support for this project out of his own pocket. He is a true testimony that one person can make a difference. Mr. Andrews was presented with a 2,000 hour Director’s Certificate of Appreciation at Tishomingo NFH on September 12^th.