Every day this week on my way to the office, I have seen a turtle crossing the road.
I have always had a soft spot for animals, so when I see a small figure in the road, I panic and worry about its safety.
“Road kill” always brings a tear to my eye, especially when I see a beautiful deer laying on the side of the road. Yes, I realize I’m a bit “soft,” however, I feel all life is precious and sometimes this circle of life brings sorrow.
Sometimes, it’s not safe to swerve or stop and help an animal in the middle of the road. I remember the first time I ran over a squirrel; I was devastated for a long time.
When it’s safe, I will swerve to avoid an animal or I stop to help.
As you may already know, my husband and I rescued our cat Lulu from the side of the road.
Monday, during my lunch break, I saw a turtle in the middle road. It wasn’t on a busy street, so I pulled over to the side of the road, picked him up and moved him to the other side.
I won’t lie, watching that little guy running across the grass brought a big smile to my face.
Since this week has been full of turtle sightings, I decided to research a cause for this.
According to www.turtlerescueleague.com, between the months of April and October a large number of turtles can be seen crossing the road. In spring, male turtles are looking for females and territory to call their own, while females are looking for a place to nest. In late summer and into fall, hatching turtles are digging their way out from nests searching for water while males and females are looking for places to hibernate.
The website suggests some tips for helping these reptiles. First, make sure the turtle isn’t injured. Next, make sure to grasp it on either side of its shell behind the front legs when picking the animal up. Thirdly, keep the turtle low to the ground when moving them.
There are many tips about how to move specific species of turtles at the website listed above.
I will definitely keep these tips in mind the next time I see a turtle on the road, because if road conditions are safe, I will surely give them a helping hand.