Make Way For Turtles!
Rhode Island’s seven native turtle species are on the move to find nests and resources after spending the winter in brumation, their own version of hibernation. When turtles leave their safe winter homes under mud or leaf litter, their search for resources and nesting spots often takes them across dangerous roadways.
Staying vigilant on the roads this spring, especially around ponds and streams, could not only save a turtle’s life, but an entire local population, as many species take up to a decade to reach sexual maturity, so breeding turtles are integral to their small, often isolated populations.
RI DEM’s Directions On How To Help A Turtle Cross The Road:
“First, ensure it is safe for you to help. Carefully pick it up with two hands on either side of its shell. Avoid picking it up by its tail, and gently place it on the side of road which it was headed toward. Turtles know where they’re going, and moving a turtle to a different location may put them in danger as they try to find their way home. For large snapping turtles, gently shepherd the turtle across the road using an object such as a stick or a broom.”
If you find an injured turtle, contact the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island at (401) 294-6363.
For more information on turtles in Rhode Island, see DEM’s turtle fact sheet at https://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/turtle.pdf.
Report sightings of turtles and other reptiles and amphibians to the RIDEM through HerpObserver: https://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/herp-observer-fs.pdf
Banner image is a photo of a Box Turtle in Charlestown by Linda Fabre