It started with a turtle. Or at least the idea of a turtle. "My partner wanted a pet turtle. He likes turtles," said Derek Smiertka, 40, of Ferndale. "I did not." Nevertheless, in the interest of ...

The last known female Yangtze giant softshell turtle died in April of unknown causes, leaving only two males as the final known living members of a species that has for years been teetering on the ...