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Each May and June, Motorists Should be on the Alert for Turtles Crossing the Road
Our native turtles are on the move in May and June seeking sandy areas or loose soil to lay their eggs. In New York, thousands of turtles are killed each year when they are struck by vehicles as they migrate to their nesting areas.
What you can do to help:
- If you see a turtle on the road, please give turtles ‘a brake’. Slow down to avoid hitting it with your car.
- If you can safely stop your vehicle, please consider moving it to the shoulder on the side of the road in the direction it was facing.
- Picking the turtle up by its tail may frighten or injure it. Most turtles can be picked up by the sides of the shell.
- Use caution when moving snapping turtles; either pick her up at the rear of the shell near the tail using two hands, or slide a car mat under the turtle to drag her across the road.
- Please do not take turtles home. All native turtles are protected by law and cannot be kept without a permit. All eleven species of land turtles that are native to New York are declining. Even losing one mature female can have a negative impact on a local population.
Photo of painted turtle by Liz Ricci.
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Do they really think the same people they have to tell not to take turtles home will know the difference between a snapping turtle and other turtles
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/how-did-turtle-cross-road-turtle-tunnel-n128461
turtle tunnels — under country roads in England, under a highway in Minnesota and under railroad tracks in Japan and India — can easily be built and layered under almost any surface. They work well; turtles learn very quickly that it is their best way to get to egg-laying terrain and back again. The tunnels need not be very big under local or country roads (and we know what snow does to our roads in the Adirondacks, requiring many of them to be re-built and re-paved as soon as workers can do it, so why not use that opportunity to layer in a “tube” and a ceiling
over it before laying down the new road or pavement.
Islip Township is permitting 8 acre clear cutting of old forest wetland area where turtles live to be used as a dredge dump site.This is tidal area.
“turtle tunnels — under country roads in England, under a highway in Minnesota and under railroad tracks in Japan and India — can easily be built and layered under almost any surface.”
>Tell that to your average American capitalist mjmiller! We’re into saving money here not turtles, and besides….this kind of thinking is just not what is generally found in the average American thinker, never mind in those who have the power to do such.
“so why not use that opportunity to layer in a “tube” and a ceiling over it before laying down the new road or pavement.”
>Read my above comment!
“Islip Township is permitting 8 acre clear cutting of old forest wetland area where turtles live ..”
Welcome to America S. I remember turtles galore on Long Island when I was growing up near Islip, and I’m sure others who are as young as me can relate the same. We just don’t care enough for turtles or any other species for that matter, other than that species ego which is always getting in the way of itself, and unfortunately all other living things while at it! This is no laughing matter and to those of us who have a conscience……it is dreadful and a damn shame!