How to Help a Snapping Turtle Cross the Road

Please brake for turtles!

Helping a snapping turtle across the road can be intimidating for many people. However, they may need your help!

Turtle crossings are a common scene in the park lately (we saved 3 this morning)! June is highly active as its also their nesting season. Unfortunately, it's also common for vehicles to hit them as they're crossing the roads at a very slow pace.

These large turtles are often found near roadways laying their eggs on the soft gravel shoulders. If their butts are buried in the gravel, don’t attempt to move them as they’re likely laying eggs.

Turtles can take an average of 9 minutes to cross a road. These aren’t good odds for these prehistoric creatures!

Here’s 5 tips to help them:

•Be safe, always check for traffic first. If you have someone else in the vehicle with you, have them watch for oncoming traffic.

•If you need to pick up a larger snapping turtle its suggested to lift with two hands, under their shell, behind their rear legs. It's common for them to squirm and kick making it difficult to hold onto them. They can snap as far as their midpoint so it's not a good idea to grab them near the middle of their shell.

•If it’s a larger turtle, lay your car floor mat in front of the turtle, get them onto the mat, and safely drag the turtle to the side of the road. Do not drag or lift them by their tail as it can damage their spine.

•Help the turtle across the road in the direction they’re facing/walking.

•If you come across an injured turtle, they might still be able to be saved. Even a recently deceased turtle might be carrying eggs and a turtle rescue center (such as Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre) may be able to save all the babies!

A turtle can take up to 15-20 years to reach maturity. Less than 1 in 100 turtle eggs laid will hatch and grow into an adult turtle.

We hope these tips help you save a turtle as they need our help! Spread the word 😊

Jesse & Susan - Instagram @followmenorth