Turtle to blame for stalled project

MATTAPOISETT, Mass. (WPRI) - These days the economy can certainly be blamed for stalled housing development, but not in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. In this beach community, a turtle is to blame.

A $20 million housing project has stalled while developers bring in a team of biologists to survey the property. It turns out that the property may also be the home of the Eastern box turtle. If this is the case, the developers would have to spend $350,000 on a system of protective tunnels and barriers for the turtles.

According to the Standard-Times of New Bedford the survey will be conducted in May and June, and will cost $20,000.