🌿 Haystead Expedition: Turtle Census Field Operation (2026)

In June 2026, the Haystead Research Ranch team will deploy on its first major field expedition with the Virginia Living Museum, supporting an ongoing freshwater turtle population study in Newport News.

Operating from mobile base the Defiant at Newport News Park, the team will integrate directly into a long-term ecological monitoring program focused on tracking species distribution, growth rates, and the impact of non-native turtle introductions.

The expedition will culminate in a live turtle census operation at Deer Park Lake, where researchers and volunteers will process captured turtles using established scientific protocols. Each animal will be identified, measured, assessed for health, and either cataloged as a new specimen or tracked as part of an ongoing recapture dataset.

This work will contribute to a broader understanding of ecosystem health and will highlight the consequences of human actions—particularly the release of pet species into native habitats.

For Haystead, this expedition will represent a foundational step in expanding field-based research, combining education, conservation, and hands-on science into a single operational mission. Launch / Operational Plan

Expedition Timeline

• June 24 (Wednesday)
  Expedition prep and Defiant configuration

• June 25 (Thursday)
  Roll out to base camp at Newport News Park

• June 26 (Friday)
  Coordination visit to Virginia Living Museum

• June 27 (Saturday)
  Turtle Census Operation
  Location: Deer Park Lake
  Time: 9:00 AM

• June 28 (Sunday)
  Break down base camp and return to Haystead Ranch