Turtle Crossing Season
Slow and steady wins the race and keeps you aware to your driving surroundings.
I've seen a few social media posts floating around of turtles around the Hudson Valley laying eggs and crossing busy roads, so this press release from the Department of Environmental Conservation seems relevant.
The DEC is advising New York State drivers to be alert for turtle crossings. They say that "native turtles are on the move in May and June, seeking sandy areas or loose soil to lay their eggs."
While our first instinct is to swerve out of the way the DEC urges drivers to pull over and physically remove turtles from the road. Swerving out of the way could obviously cause a more sever accident.
According to the DEC, New York is home to 11 different species of land turtles and that they are in the decline. It also takes them about 10 years to breed.
When removing a turtle from the road the DEC suggests to pick the turtle up by the side of their shell and to not" pick up a turtle by its tail. Picking the turtle up by its tail may frighten or injure the reptile."
If you come across a snapping turtle, however, you are to pick it up from the sides of its shell closer to the tail area.
And if you're thinking about taking one of these native New York turtles home, think again. The DEC says that "All native turtles are protected by law and cannot be collected without a permit."