06/01/2026
It is once again that time of the year when we take a few moments to remind everyone that late May thru late June is the time of year when female turtles of all types in our region need to leave the safety of their ponds, lakes, swamps, streams and rivers in order to find the perfect spot to lay their eggs.
Due to development, commercial and residential, in many areas the journey is often perilous as the turtles need to traverse busy roads and highways in order to get to the nesting sites which are normally the place in which mama turtle was hatched.
Please exercise caution when driving through known turtle crossings. If you do decide to stop and help a turtle cross a road, gently grasp it on the sides of its shell and move it in the direction in which its head is pointing as that is where it needs to go. Moving a turtle back to its original spot only increases the chance of the turtle being injured or killed by passing traffic. If trying to assist a snapping turtle, we find that the best way to avoid a "snap" while helping the turtle is to use a floormat from your vehicle in order to move the turtle along. And please-DO NOT grasp a snapping turtle by the tail!
We send a big "Thank-You" to anyone who helps a turtle to safely navigate the journey to and from the nesting sites. By utilizing proper procedures we can help to increase success rates and therefore the survival of our reptilian friends .
And finally, give yourself a pat on the back for a good deed!
