What to Do If You See a Turtle in the Road
I attempted to rescue a turtle on Green River Road the other evening, but as I got closer, I realized my rescue efforts were wasted on a boot. But it got me thinking, we see turtles in the road all the time, how are we sure we're properly rescuing them? I checked with the Turtle Rescue League, and here's what they say!
First of all, if you are moving a turtle across the road, move it in the direction it is going, the turtle is on a mission and turning it around will make it try to cross the road again. Here's other information the Turtle Rescue League recommends;
First, be safe, while helping the turtle, busy streets are dangerous for would be rescuers and turtles alike. Put on your hazard lights and pull fully off the road. Make sure other drivers see you, before stepping onto a road.
You mostly see turtles crossing roads between April and October. They do this for many reasons. In the spring, male turtles are looking for females and territory to call their own, while females are looking for places to nest. During the late summer and fall, hatchling turtles are digging up from nests, looking for water and later on males and females are heading to places to hibernate. Sometimes they are migrating to a more suitable spot to live.
For whatever reasons these turtles are traveling, their destination can take them miles away from the water they live in. With greater human development, turtles must cross more roads. We can help them immensely by taking only a few minutes out of our day.
For more info, and what to do if the turtle you find is injured, check out all the info from the Turtle Rescue League.
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