Daredevil Turtles!

Look Out!

Driving home has gotten more problematic lately in that turtles are out sunning themselves on the road to my house.  Worse, they don’t stay still.  As I drive I find them crawling over the road surface in no predictable manner.  And sometimes these little critters really scoot!  

Turtles are typically known for being slow critters but when they want, they can really move.  This all well and good, but as these are small turtles crawling in dappled sunlight falling through the canopy of trees, unfortunately the turtles often just look just like another shadow until I get right up on them.  I try to avoid them but sometimes they seem to travel in the same direction I do when trying to avoid!  

So far I have not hit one and I certainly don’t want to but these critters don’t make it easy for me to avoid them.

Anyone else experience anything similar?

Eric

Sometimes I see them in the road also. I stop my truck and get out to help. I pick them up and place them off in the grass on whichever side of the road they were going towards.

Must be time to get that ebike you’ve been thinking about!

i stop to move box turtles out of the road regularly. much better than seeing them crushed there later.

Like James, we stop and help the turtles to cross the road.  Though we don't see too many of them.

Eric , maybe you need to get a sign put on your road:


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And there is a meme for that:


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Here are some way to help the turtles:


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I hope I don't run into these turtles!


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I wish I could put up turtle crossing signs, but the road to my house is a little over 2.5 miles.

Love the pictures though!

I've always gotten a kick out of helping turtles out of the road and having them be outraged that you are helping them. Unless the turtle is itty bitty, I tend to lift them up by the rear of the shell to avoid getting snapped at and "wheelbarrow" them to the roadside.

It only gets worse when there is an audience of patient motorists watching you wrestle with the turtle.

Every springtime here snapping turtles venture from their usual residences in ponds and swamps to lay eggs. For some reason our vegetable garden is considered prime territory. They sneak under the gates, apparently energized, we’ve noticed, by thunder storms. Seasonal turtle-proofing has become a regular chore, but this year I forgot, and of course a couple of turtles grabbed the opportunity. They can be destructive—this time dug out our watermelon plants and some brassicas before I showed up to redirect them. I use a shovel for transport, coming at them from behind, which the turtles tolerate pretty well, although one did take offense and bit the shovel handle. Spun around quick as a gunshot!

David Milano wrote:I use a shovel for transport, coming at them from behind, which the turtles tolerate pretty well, although one did take offense and bit the shovel handle. Spun around quick as a gunshot!

You're a brave one! Last turtle I had to move, I kept my hands within two feet of the end of the handle, shoveled him sideways into a big trash can and drug that near the pond to tip it over for him. I thought he was pissed BEFORE I got him into the can. 55 gallon can and he was jumping half way up the side!