05/02/2025
It's that time of year... turtle crossing season! The vast majority of these turtles are females looking for a safe place on higher ground to lay their eggs. Nesting away from bodies of water actually helps protect the eggs from predators, such as raccoons and skunks, which tend to stay closer to the water sources like the lakes and rivers the turtles came from. Since all predators need water, this journey helps reduce the risk of egg predation.
If you see a turtle crossing the road, you can help! Always move the turtle in the direction it was already going. If you turn it around, it will just try to cross again. Be gentle, and always make sure you’re safe from traffic first.
Snapping turtles are a little different. They can’t pull their legs, tail, or head fully into their shells (which makes them easy to identify), so they need to look and act tougher to protect themselves, as the shell doesn't offer full protection. Because of this, they can be more aggressive and harder to move safely. If you’re not sure how to handle a snapping turtle, it’s best not to pick it up. Never grab any turtle by the tail as it can seriously hurt them. Instead, you can gently guide a snapping turtle across the road using a stick, a shovel, or even your car’s floor mat.
Helping turtles get safely across roads during nesting season is a small act that can make a big difference for local wildlife - and if you come across a turtle that didn't make the journey, you can actually still help. You can take the turtle to a wildlife rehabilitator, and if it’s a female with eggs, they can extract the eggs and hatch them, ensuring her journey wasn’t in vain.
