WMEO Special Report: Two Heads Are Better Than One?

Posted on October 29, 2026October 29, 2026 by Dusty Roads | No Comments

WMEO Special Report

Graphic reading “SPECIAL REPORT” in large white letters over a blue television news-style background, with the word “REPORT” displayed on a red banner beneath “SPECIAL.” The design features motion blur effects and broadcast-style graphics, creating the appearance of breaking news or an urgent news update.

Two Heads, One Turtle, Zero Interviews

WMEO 9 Breaking News parody image showing Banner and Balboa reporting on a supposedly unusual one-headed turtle. A live remote feed features field reporter Pumpkin Spice interviewing a turtle in a grassy field. The newsroom set includes microphones, newspapers, a notepad labeled “Pumpkin Spice Interviews,” Balboa’s glasses on the desk, and a humorous note reading “Bloodworms? Seriously?”

Banner reporting live from the WMEO Nature Desk.

Good evening, everyone

A rare two-headed diamondback terrapin discovered on Cape Cod last month continues to make progress under the watchful eye of wildlife veterinarians in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

The tiny turtle surprised everyone when it arrived at the Cape Wildlife Center. The tiny hatchling arrived weighing about as much as a nickle. It was found at a protected nesting site in September. The turtle has a rare condition known as bicephaly, resulting in two fully formed heads sharing a single body.

Balboa: 2 heads! Does that mean they get 2 snacks? One for each head? How would that work?

Banner: According to wildlife officials, both heads remain alert, active, and healthy. The young terrapin has been eating a varied diet that includes fish, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and vitamin supplements.

Veterinarians are continuing to monitor the turtle’s growth, appetite, and behavior while planning advanced imaging studies to better understand its internal anatomy. The information could help determine whether this remarkable little reptile might someday be released into the wild.

Balboa: Bloodworms, Seriously? Where are the treats? Don’t baby turtles deserve treats? Just a tiny cookie or perhaps a miniature cupcake?

Banner: Experts say this is only the third bicephalic terrapin their team has encountered in the last five years.

Now we go live to Pumpkin Spice, who has apparently requested an exclusive interview.

An orange and white cat wearing a black hat with an orange band and a press badge that reads “WMEO PRESS PUMPKIN SPICE REPORTER” poses as a news reporter. The cat has a blue lanyard and holds a camera, while a microphone labeled “WMEO NEWS” sits nearby. The softly blurred background suggests an outdoor setting, creating a humorous scene of a feline journalist at work.

Pumpkin Spice Reports

Thank you, Banner.

I am standing beside one very small turtle and, technically speaking, two potential interview subjects.

The problem is I don’t know which head to interview.

I started with the head on the left.

“How does it feel being famous?”

No response.

I then turned to the head on the right.

“Would you describe yourself as the brains of the operation?”

Also no response.

Thinking perhaps they preferred hard-hitting journalism, I asked:

“Which one of you gets the front seat on road trips?”

Still nothing.

At this point I became concerned they were giving me the silent treatment.

The veterinary staff informed me that turtles are generally not known for answering interview questions.

I believe further investigation is warranted.

Back to you, Banner.

Banner: And now we go to our news analyst, Balboa, for his always insightful and occasionally relevant comments.

Balboa’s Commentary Corner

Thank you!

Let me save everyone some time. Turtles having one head is widely considered normal. "Two-headed turtle rescued by the New England Wildlife Center rests on a dark surface, showing its rare and unusual dual-headed anatomy."

The turtle is not ignoring Pumpkin Spice.

The turtle is being a turtle.

I will admit this is a remarkable little animal. Two heads, one body, and apparently more patience than I possess.

I still feel that the diet needs adjusting to include snacks

A celebratory snack for managing life with twice as many heads as everybody else.

I presented these concerns to the veterinary staff.

They informed me that turtles do not eat cookies.

I remain unconvinced.

The scientists are learning valuable information while making sure the hatchling receives the best possible care.

Meanwhile, Pumpkin Spice has spent the afternoon trying to determine whether the turtle has one birthday or two.

For the record, I do not know.

And unlike Pumpkin Spice, I am comfortable admitting that.

What Makes Everything Odd?

A rare two-headed turtle continues to thrive under expert care while veterinarians study one of nature’s most unusual conditions.

Meanwhile, Pumpkin Spice remains convinced that at least one of the turtle’s heads was about to answer a question before being interrupted by the other. 🐢🐢

This Has been a Special Report Live from the WMEO Nature Desk.

We Meow – You listen

Stay Tuned for more Uupdates as they become available

Maui Ocean Center Revisited

Posted on December 8, 2016December 8, 2016 by Dusty Roads

Vacation was nearing its inevitable conclusion. Time was running out.

Kathy had leave the next day. It seemed suitable to attend a Luau for her last evening on Maui but we needed to keep busy until then.

First stop was Lahina to pick up some souvenirs.

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A pair of grass skirts and coconut bras for the little grand girls would be perfect.

From there we made our way to the Maui Ocean Center. I know we told you about our previous visit but Kathy hadn’t arrived then. It was time to show our cuz the cute aquarium.

It’s taken a quarter of a century for the aquarium to grow to its current size. Maui Ocean Center isn’t just an aquarium, it focuses on the flora and fauna of the oceans surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the species are found no other place on earth.

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All of the exhibits faithfully replicate the natural environment. Its one of the only aquariums that specialize in caring for live corals. In the living reef building all of the corals are alive, not imitations.

The official sate fish of Hawaii is the reef triggerfish.

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Its Hawaiian name is Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua’a. It means trigger fish with snout like pig. Now That’s a mouthful!

The Maui Ocean Center takes part in the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle Educational Loan Program. They host baby sea turtles from hatchlings up to 2 years old when they are released into the ocean.

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That’s just touching on the Aquarium, from surge zone to ocean depths it’s all here for you to see and experience.

Labor Day Weekend

Posted on September 5, 2016September 5, 2016 by Dusty Roads

Saturday was nice but Sunday out did itself. Temps in the mid 70’s and a breeze that bordered on wind as it gusted throughout the afternoon. The sky was sunny and the day bright. If it weren’t for those occasional wind gusts one would never know a hurricane/tropical storm was working its way up the coast toward my neck of the woods.

Labor Day marks the end of summer and I was sad to see this marker arrive. I haven’t done even half of the things I wanted to do.

In the Rocks

No trip to New Hampshire, just the puffin trip to Maine and very little camera time in the woods anywhere!

I seem to move slower each year and I am much more of a klutz!

To avoid tripping over Buddy when he was so sick, I ended up stubbing my little toe and it appears that I broke it.

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Of course they don’t do anything except possibly tape it. I let it get almost healed and then over do it and am back to square one. But I was determined I was not going to let this last weekend of the summer get away from me completely so I headed out with camera in hand to run through some of my favorite wildlife spots. Although I won’t share where I went ( I made several stops) I will tell you that most are Mass Audubon locations.

My goal was to spot some ducks but I didn’t find any, not one. Most places were very dry. The summer long drought was clearly taking it’s toll. Ponds were little more than mud holes, brooks almost completely dry with a few mud puddles.

I was lucky enough at the bog behind the Bass Pro Shop to see both the large and the small. Tiny turtles that were small enough to sit on the lily pads were sunning in abundance when a huge snapping turtle rose from the dark brown waters. His nose broke the surface water and you could faintly see the outline of his shell. I had no idea such a big turtle lived in this bog! No photo of the big guy. The water was just too dark and brackish.

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At a more remote location I was thrilled to see a red fox stretched out on a rock enjoying the sun. I watched for about 30 minutes but he never looked my way. Occasionally he’d lift his head and look away from me or flick an ear so I knew he was alive but that was about it. I wanted to stay longer but I didn’t want to disturb him either so I thought it best to slip away, thrilled with the rare sight.

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I ended my day at the Trailside Museum in the Blue Hills of Milton, MA. I was hoping to get a photo of a snowy owl. Turns out they have a pair, a male and a female but they were in an outdoor pen and there was no place to get a clear shot because of the fencing on the cage.

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I didn’t linger as all of their displays are like that, red tail hawk, turkey vulture, bald eagle and white tail deer. All had “obstructed view” as far as the camera is concerned. One display did lend itself to photos and that was the river otter. I have to admit I wish I could say these photos were true wildlife photos but no such luck. I’ll have to settle for captive otter photos. (He was having a great time playing with his tail)

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It was a beautiful day but as I headed home I became aware of a dull throb coming from my little toe. Guess I overdid it again. Darn!

Mystic Aquarium

Posted on August 21, 2016August 21, 2016 by Dusty Roads

Its still, as the weathermen say, HHH. High Pressure, Hot, Humid, 3 H’s. I like the heat but I will admit the humidity is starting to wear me out. The forecast was for a break in the humidity if not the heat so Nancy and I decided to take the kids to the Mystic Aquarium. I was thinking it would be inside so we’d avoid the oppressive outdoors anyway. I’ve never been to Mystic Aquarium so what did I know. I based my opinion on Boston’s Aquarium.

Anyway, quite a bit of Mystic Aquarium is outside and to my way of thinking some of the most unique and best exhibits.

Mystic

It’s not a bad drive to Connecticut and we made it right on time according to the On Star directions and that was with several minor traffic back ups.

The Beluga exhibit is right there when you first go through the entrance.

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I could have spent the whole visit there even though it was hot and humid. The whales are sometimes called the Canaries of the Sea because of the multiple vocalizations they can make. They did not disappoint us. They blew and chirped and stuck their heads out of the water.

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At the observation windows they seemed as fascinated by the humans as we were of them.

Beluga

Following the path toward the Penguin exhibit we passed the seals & Sea lions.

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Then it was decision time, right took us through the “Marsh” on a boardwalk and left took us to the Penguins. The kids made a bee line for the boardwalk and eagerly inspected the duckweed and plants for turtles and frogs.

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I really liked the boardwalk. We spotted quite a few creatures once we adjusted our eyes to finding them in the weeds.

Frog in Duckweed

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We had an audience of 3 little ducks too that added comic relief.

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Next up was the Budgie Tent.

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Those birds are always fun.

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There were cockatoos and other small birds native to Australia as well as the Budgies.

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By then It was time for a break and we hadn’t even gotten inside yet!

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Posted on June 26, 2016June 26, 2016 by Dusty Roads

My Plantar Fasciitis has improved dramatically. My foot still feels a little bruised but I can walk without limping so it was time to see if it would hold up for a hike. I only have a couple of weeks before my Big Maine Adventure which will involve .5 – 1 mile hikes. It doesn’t sound like much but if you have ever experienced the pain of Plantar Fasciitis, you know it’s like walking on a golf ball! 10 feet is too far!

To improve my motivation I decided to head for Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick, MA. This is an Audubon property and I hadn’t been there before. It had the added benefit of being in Natick so I could include lunch at Kelly’s Roast beef.

Kelly's Roast Beef

Before I left the house I dug around to find my Audubon membership card. I’ve never been asked for it but I’d never been to Broadmoor before either. Turns out it was a good thing I made the effort. They have a Welcome Center that is staffed and they do check memberships.

Broadmoor

When I pulled in I was surprised to see a full parking lot. I figured that I wouldn’t see much with that many people tramping around but it turns out there are more than 9 miles of trails.

No way was I going to try any of the longer trails today. So I settled on the Mill Pond/Marsh Trail. It’s a mile long but I only covered the Marsh section. I wandered a boardwalk, watched a swan groom itself and admired the sunning turtles.

Broadmoor Swan

I met some nice people along the way but it wasn’t really as crowded as I expected.

Turtles

I will have to go back again as my foot gets stronger. I want to see the little waterfall at the ruins of the mill and there is supposed to be an active beaver pond with a dam and lodge.

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