Why did the turtle cross the road?

Each year, as temperatures rise, turtles begin searching for new habitats, food sources, and nesting sites. This sea-sonal migration often brings them onto roads, where female turtles, especially, are seeking suitable places to lay their eggs. Drivers are encouraged to pay attention, as turtles are particularly vulnerable on roadways during this time.Despite having survived since before the age of dinosaurs, turtles are struggling today. Their reliance on re-treating into their shells for protection offers no defense against cars and trucks, and road mortality has become a significant factor in the decline of turtle populations. Helping a turtle cross the road safely is a simple but effective way to make a difference.Turtles do not wander onto roads aimlessly, “they’re going to where they’re nests are and the water is,” said Wabasha County Conservation Officer Marie Petersen. In places like Minnesota, where most turtles are aquatic, these journeys across the road are closely tied to their life cycles: moving between wetlands, seeking nesting sites in early summer, or, in the case of hatchlings, searching for permanent water sources. It is not unusual to find turtles far from water as they follow these natural patterns. Most turtles are seen crossing roads in early and mid-summer and are likely heading toward a familiar nesting location. “If you see them on the road, move them in the direction they are heading. If they’re facing one way, bring them to the side they are going,” said Petersen. Handling turtles requires caution. Many species will try to bite if they feel threatened, and snapping turtles and spiny soft-shells are especially quick to defend themselves.

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