In May and June,
Motorists Asked to Watch for Turtles Crossing the Road
World Turtle Day® is
Monday, May 23
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos
today reminded New Yorkers that turtles are nesting in May and June, and
asked motorists to "give turtles a brake." In New York,
thousands of turtles are killed each year by unsuspecting drivers when
turtles cross roads to find nesting areas.
"While a turtle's shell
provides protection from predators, it does not protect against being
struck by vehicles while crossing roadways," Commissioner Seggos
said. "Vehicle strikes are a major cause of
mortality among turtles and New York's native turtles are more
susceptible at this time of year as they seek sandy areas or loose soil
in which to lay their eggs. Especially in these coming weeks, DEC urges
New York drivers to be on the lookout for turtles and slow down,
particularly on roads near rivers and marshy areas."
Drivers who see a turtle on
the road are encouraged to slow down to avoid hitting it with their
vehicle. If the vehicle can safely stop, motorists should consider moving
the turtle to the shoulder on the side of the road in the direction it
was facing, if drivers are able to safely do so. Motorists are advised
not to pick turtles up by their tails, which could injure the turtle.
Most turtles, other than snapping turtles, can be picked up safely by the
sides of their shell. Snapping turtles have necks that can reach far back
and have a strong bite, so if motorists try to help a snapping turtle,
they should pick it up by the rear of the shell near the tail using both
hands or slide a car mat under the turtle to
drag it safely across the road. Do not drag the turtle by the tail as
that can dislocate the tail bones.
A licensed
wildlife rehabilitator may be able to help if you find an
injured turtle.
DEC reminds people not to
take turtles home. All native turtles are protected by law and cannot be
kept without a DEC permit.
All 11 species of land turtles native to New York are in decline. Turtles are
long-lived species and it takes many years for a
turtle to reach maturity. Even losing one mature female can have a
negative impact on a local population. Learn
more about New York's native turtles at DEC's website.
Four species of sea turtles
can be found in New York waters, and these turtles are all either
threatened or endangered. Visit DEC's website to learn more about sea turtles. If you encounter a sea
turtle on the beach, do not put it back in the water, instead call
the New York
State 24-Hour Stranding Hotline at (631) 369-9829 and
a trained responder will provide instructions.
To help turtles and other
wildlife, New Yorkers are encouraged to:
·
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and
Rethink: these are simple steps to help protect all wildlife;
·
Don't litter: unwanted
trash makes its way just about everywhere, including into our creeks,
lakes, rivers, and the ocean;
·
Don't release balloons or
lanterns: releasing balloons into the environment is potentially
fatal for many different wildlife, including sea turtles that commonly
mistake balloons and plastic bags for prey items like jellyfish;
·
Volunteer for beach and park
clean-ups; and
·
Stay informed and share your
knowledge with others.
DEC recognizes May 23 as
World Turtle Day®. American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a
not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of all species of
tortoise and turtle, created World Turtle Day® to
celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing
habitats around the world. These gentle animals have been around for 200
million years, yet are rapidly disappearing due to smuggling, the exotic
food industry, climate change, loss of habitat, and the illegal pet
trade.
|
