KIRKWOOD, Missouri (WJW) -- An unusually shaped turtle is living proof of the impact litter can have on wildlife and the environment.

The turtle with a peanut-shaped shell is appropriately named 'Peanut the Turtle.'

According to officials, she turned 41 this weekend. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) threw a 'Birthday Bash' in her honor.

"Peanut the Turtle has attracted attention all over Missouri, along with national and worldwide fame. Her figure-eight shell was the result of crawling into that six-pack ring when she was very young. As Peanut’s shell grew around it, her one-of-a-kind shape became her superpower. She’s not a teenager anymore, but her mighty message continues to remind people to put litter in its place," wrote MDC.

Peanut the Turtle is a red-eared slider. A

See Full Page