Ditch the Bra: Save a Turtle
I know a lot of us can relate: there comes a time in the life of a bra when it’s just… done. The elastic’s shot. The straps are giving up. And while we love donating used clothes, most places don’t want your worn-out undergarments (and we get it).
But before you toss that bra in the trash, consider this: that tired bra might be exactly what a turtle needs to survive.
Yup, it ’s a real thing. Wildlife rescues across the country are using bra closures — the little hook-and-eye bits — to help mend broken turtle shells. A surprisingly smart, science-backed solution that’s giving these slow-moving reptiles a second shot at life.
Let’s break down why this works—and how to help.
Shells Are Not Armor — They’re Bone
Let’s start with a myth-buster: turtles don’t “live inside” their shells. They are their shells. It’s a living, feeling part of their body — made from about 50 bones, including ribs, spine, and shoulder structures, all fused into one bony shield.
It’s wrapped in keratin (same stuff as your nails) and full of nerve endings. So when a turtle gets hit by a car or attacked by a predator, and that shell cracks? They feel it. Deeply.
This isn’t cosmetic damage — it’s trauma.
How Bra Hardware Saves Shells
Here’s where your old bra gets a heroic second act.
Wildlife rehabbers figured out that the little “eye” closures on bras can act like tiny brackets. They gently secure them on either side of a turtle’s shell fracture using medical screws, then loop wire or zip ties between the fasteners to hold the cracked pieces together — kind of like a reptilian back brace.
It’s cost-effective, lightweight, adjustable — and it works. With antibiotics, time, and rehab TLC, the shell can heal itself.
Field Tip: Don’t Just Mail It — Call First
Wildlife centers sometimes need to shift their focus or locations, so before you send your donations, give them a call to confirm they still need them — and that you have the correct address. Even better? Reach out to your local wildlife rehab. Many help turtles and would love your support close to home.
Where to Send Bra Fasteners
Carolina Waterfowl Rescue
PO Box 1484, Indian Trail, NC 28079
704-668-9486
Wildthunder Wildlife & Animal Rehab
2584 Henley Ave, Independence, IA 50644
319-961-3285
https://www.wildthunderwars.org
Turtle Rescue & Rehab Program
PO Box 687, Ladson, SC 29456
843-801-6224
https://turtlesanctum.org/trrp.htm
Upstate Turtle Rehab & Conservation
864-325-7528
https://upstateturtlerehab.com
Know a rescue we missed? Drop us a line at talktous@explorefieldtrip.com and we’ll add them to the list!
How to Help Turtles Safely
If you spot a turtle crossing the road:
• Move them in the direction they were heading
• Never pick them up by the tail (that can dislocate their spine)
• Support their body evenly — they feel pressure on the shell
• Don’t relocate them — they’ll just try to return
If the turtle is injured? Call a licensed wildlife rehabber. Don’t DIY shell surgery, no matter how crafty you are with bra bits.
Dig This: Turtle Facts to Impress Your Friends
• Turtles don’t leave their shells — they’re literally fused to them
• Many turtles feel touch, warmth, and pressure on their shells
• Some turtles can live over 100 years
• Their shells grow with them, like living armor
• Turtles can breathe through their butts (yep, it’s called “cloacal respiration”)
• Healing a cracked shell can take weeks to months — but it’s possible
