Meet Shelldon, Bledsoe Creek State Park's first and only animal ambassador

Bledsoe Creek State Park is raising money to purchase much-needed supplies for animal ambassadors and to make park improvements.

Anyone can donate to vote for their favorite Tennessee State Park in the third annual My TN State Park Fundraiser, according to Bledsoe Creek State Park officials, where each one-dollar donation equals one vote and supports Tennessee State Park's mission to protect and preserve the unique natural, cultural and historic resources of Tennessee.

Bledsoe Creek State Park has raised $941 of their $2,200 goal, as of April 25.

“We have big plans for our park, and your votes can help us achieve those goals,” Bledsoe Creek State Park officials said. "With $2,200 from the My TN State Park Fundraiser, we could make significant improvements, like adding an ADA-accessible ramp to our outdoor classroom, purchasing much-needed supplies for our animal ambassadors, or purchasing outdoor fitness equipment for recreational use.”

More: Need travel ideas this summer? Here are some of Middle Tennessee's best destinations

Shelldon, the park’s first and only animal ambassador, was a result of last year’s fundraiser.

“We purchased his habitat… we got a wildlife educator permit… that’s part of what we did with our donation funds last year,” Bledsoe Creek State Park Administrative Assistant Ashlee McDaniel said. “He’s the first animal ambassador we’ve had here.”

Shelldon is an eastern box turtle, native to Tennessee, and came from a nearby animal rehabilitation facility, Walden’s Puddle.

“They get the name due to the hinge like mechanism on the bottom of their shelves that allows them to completely close up in their shell, like a box,” Bledsoe Creek State Park Ranger Marco Rodriguez said.

Shelldon was brought to the wildlife rehab center after being attacked by dogs, Rodriguez said.

“Most turtles can just pull their limbs in. Due to his injury the front of his shell is severely damaged, and he can no longer close his shell, thus making him not be able to defend himself in the wild,” he said.

Unable to return to the wild, Shelldon came to the park in July 2022 to serve as an animal ambassador to visitors.

“He works with us to educate the public on the importance of respecting wildlife, smart pet ownership, and the role these critters do for us,” he said.

More: Foliage at Sumner parks: Don't miss the peak of fall colors

And some of this year’s donations will go towards making Shelldon a very happy turtle.

“He loves mealworms and blueberries, so those are two of the things that (donations) will definitely go towards,” she said, noting a possible upgrade or expansion to his enclosure as well.

Park officials are hoping to add another animal – a corn snake – to the ambassador program this year.

Tennessee State Park supporters can vote until April 30, at 11:59 p.m. Vote now.

Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet Shelldon, Bledsoe Creek State Park's first and only animal ambassador