What should you do if you see a turtle on the road?

Nature Conservancy of Canada provides tips on how you can help

Yorkregion.com
July 3, 2019
Kim Zarour

See a turtle on the road? You can help save its life.

This is the time of year (between now and October) when you are more likely to crush a turtle under your tires.

That's because they are moving from their usual habitats to mate and find nesting sites. In late summer and early fall, they are vulnerable again as hatched turtles travel from their nest to wetland or ponds, says Nature Conservancy Canada.

And our environment needs them to stay alive.

"Turtles help keep wetlands clean and healthy by eating dead plants, insects and animals, and play the role of the wetland janitor," says program director Kristyn Ferguson.

You may encounter them crossing busy urban streets or back roads on the way to the cottage, basking on gravel, sandy road sides or warm asphalt to warm up on cool spring days.

While a turtle’s shell can protect from predators, it’s no match for a car. If you see a turtle, slow down and check to be sure you can safely steer around it. If you can, help it cross the road. Here’s how:

1. First, make sure it’s safe for you to pull your car over. Move the turtle in the direction it was going, otherwise it will likely try to cross again.

2. For turtles that hide their heads in their shells, pick the turtle up and carry it (close to the ground in case you drop it) across the road.

3. Snapping turtles are big and grey with heavy, spiked tails and massive armoured shells. They cannot hide their heads in their shells and have a dangerously sharp snout. To safely move them, lift using the “handles” on either side of their tails on the back of their shells and “wheelbarrow” them across the road on their front legs. If you have a car mat or a shovel, carefully slide the turtle onto this and drag it across.

4. Back away, and let the turtle be. You don’t want to cause stress.

5. Pushing or shoving turtles across roads with your feet or sticks isn't advisable. Their shells aren't as thick underneath, and rough pavement can do a lot of damage.

You can report the sighting on Carapace.ca.