Hauling Out

Posted by kara smith on July 25, 2005

Q: Why do leeches attach to a turtle's shell? Can they actually get blood from it?

A: Leeches can't get blood from the shell. The leech has simply gotten on the turtle's body and will move about the animal until it finds skin to obtain blood. You simply found a turtle with a leech that hadn't yet found a suitable feeding location. Good observation and question on your part.

John Wiessinger ( July 26, 2005)