Spring is a busy time for many animals, and you might see more animals on the move because many of them are going to or from their breeding grounds. One of the most visible locations where these animals get noticed is the road, especially when they try to cross; some of them don’t make it to the other side.

Various species of turtles frequently fall victim to vehicle traffic on many roads. They are big enough to notice, but the driver of a fast-moving vehicle might not see the turtle in time to avoid hitting it. 

If you see a turtle, and if it’s safe to do so, you can find a place to safely pull off the road and move the turtle to the side of the road to which it was traveling.

Snapping turtles can be dangerous to handle, so many people decide to just drive around them. These turtles can be handled by grasping the shell slightly behind the mid-point between the front and rear legs on both sides (with the head away from you). Some people carry snow shovels and use them to slide the turtle off the road.

Most of the turtle activity observed in the region near roads occurs due to breeding, with females traveling to nesting sites, but turtle activity is occasionally seen later in the summer as they try to find a new water source or other habitat. 

Included in this column are a few species of road-crossing turtles in our area.