Thirteen St. Louis youth will be in Forest Park on June 13 tracking box turtles, fitted with telemetry devices--all to help with a project aimed at studying box turtle movements and their health.

The 11-, 12- and 13-year-olds are participating in a pilot study designed by scientists from the Saint Louis Zoo and Washington University in St. Louis to document box turtle movements and their health status in urban and rural areas in and around St. Louis.  This study comes at a critical time as previous studies conducted across the globe show that many populations of turtles are being threatened by vehicles, habitat loss, and disease. However, the conservation status of box turtles in Missouri is not well-understood.

Families are invited to an Earth Day party for the planet on Sunday, April 22, 2012, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saint Louis Zoo.  Kids can make crafts, join in activities and find out how they can be more “green.”

Maps for the events and locations will be available at both Zoo entrances, ahead of Earth Day.  Live entertainment by Bob Case in Schnuck Family Plaza, special keeper chats, training demonstrations and feedings at various animal exhibits will be happening all day at the zoo.  

Visit the Zoo’s website for a complete schedule.

Admission to the Saint Louis Zoo and Earth Day activities is free.  Admission to Emerson Children’s Zoo is $4/person. Children under 2 are free. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

The trash/recycling collection schedule will be adjusted to accommodate the Presidents Day holiday on February 20, 2012.

Residents who normally have their trash and/or recycling collected on Monday and Thursday will have their trash and/or recycling collected on Tuesday, February 21st and Thursday, February 23rd.

Residents who normally have their trash and/or recycling collected on Tuesday and Friday will have their trash and/or recycling collected on Wednesday, February 22nd and Friday, February 24th.

Yard waste will be collected monthly from the yard waste alley dumpsters on the same week as the bulk pick-up. Weekly collection of yard waste for roll carts has been discontinued during the winter months.