The Easter Bunny may be quick to hop across the road to find eggs, but turtles move a lot slower across the road on their quest to find mates or lay eggs! We've only seen a handful of turtles so far this spring, but as the weather continues to warm, we will no doubt start seeing them on a more regular basis. If you decide to help a turtle cross the road, follow these simple tips to keep yourself and the turtle safe!
*** Pull completely off the road and turn on your hazard lights.
*** Never pick a turtle up by the tail -that hurts! Pick it up by holding each side of the shell behind the front legs. Carry it across the road close to the ground to prevent injury in case you drop it.
*** Carry the turtle way off the side of the road in the direction it was traveling. Never turn the turtle around and take it back in the direction it was coming from. If you do, it will eventually turn back around and try to cross the road again.
*** When trying to help a snapping turtle, don't pick it up! Instead, gently nudge it across the road with a long blunt object. Keep all of your fingers and toes away from snappers because they are very fast and flexible; they can swing their head around and bite you before you even realize it is happening.
*** Never take a turtle home as a pet. They are natural carriers of the bacteria Salmonella. Salmonella can cause a serious or even life-threatening infections in people, even though the bacteria do not make turtles sick.
*** After moving a turtle, wash your hands as soon as possible!
(Photo: Chris Hoving)
*** Pull completely off the road and turn on your hazard lights.
*** Never pick a turtle up by the tail -that hurts! Pick it up by holding each side of the shell behind the front legs. Carry it across the road close to the ground to prevent injury in case you drop it.
*** Carry the turtle way off the side of the road in the direction it was traveling. Never turn the turtle around and take it back in the direction it was coming from. If you do, it will eventually turn back around and try to cross the road again.
*** When trying to help a snapping turtle, don't pick it up! Instead, gently nudge it across the road with a long blunt object. Keep all of your fingers and toes away from snappers because they are very fast and flexible; they can swing their head around and bite you before you even realize it is happening.
*** Never take a turtle home as a pet. They are natural carriers of the bacteria Salmonella. Salmonella can cause a serious or even life-threatening infections in people, even though the bacteria do not make turtles sick.
*** After moving a turtle, wash your hands as soon as possible!
(Photo: Chris Hoving)
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