Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side of course! But sometimes these slow-moving creatures don’t quite make it. Turtles are thought to be slow and steady, but this is not always a positive attribute in the race against vehicles on the road. If you come across a turtle crossing the road, it is often best to safely and cautiously lend a helping hand.
If you see a turtle trying to cross a street:
- Be sure you find a safe space to pull off as to not harm yourself or other drivers.
- Pick up small turtles by firmly grasping both sides of their bodies in front of their hind legs while being careful not to drop them.
- All turtles can bite, so use extreme caution and never put your hands near their front half of body
- Larger turtles like snapping turtles have long necks, pointed heads and can bite hard.
- When helping turtles, remember to move them in the direction they are already headed to allow them to reach their chosen destination. If not, they will likely try to cross the road again and endanger their lives once more.
- Often, a water source is not visible, but rest assured, they’ve been around a lot longer than humans (the earliest species dating back 157 million years ago) so they know where they’re going.
When helping wildlife to safety, the most important priority is maintaining your own safety as well. Be extremely cautious on the roadways when helping a turtle by watching for traffic and remaining visible at all times.
Once across the road, let them journey on alone. It is also important to never relocate a turtle to a new location unless the current location is extremely dangerous such as a road or parking lot. Remember to move them to an area in the direction they were headed out of harm’s way. Moving a turtle to a different location may cause significant, even deadly stress to the animal as well as expose them to foreign parasites or diseases. It is never good for the long-term health of the animal to relocate them.
If you hit a turtle or see an injured turtle on the road, transport them to Ohio Wildlife Center’s Wildlife Hospital for treatment. Turtles are tough and can often be treated and rehabilitated back into the wild with the help of our dedicated staff and volunteers. Broken shells on a turtle are similar to broken bones in humans, so staff and volunteers often use various materials to aid in the rebuilding and growth of the turtles’ protective cover.
In 2016 alone, the Wildlife Hospital admitted more than 50 turtles– spanning 7 different species. Turtles generally require relatively longer stays in the hospital including a specialized diet and intensive care. This treatment can be time-consuming and expensive so financial support for this cold-blooded species is important and appreciated.
So this summer, keep your eyes peeled for turtle crossings– thank you for your continued support of all of our Ohio wildlife!