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In May and
June, Motorists Advised to Watch for Turtles Crossing the Road
In recognition
of World Turtle Day® on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos 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 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 and drivers are able to
safely do so, motorists should consider moving the turtle to the shoulder
on the side of the road in the direction it was facing. 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 shells. 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 doing so can dislocate the tail bones.
A licensed wildlife
rehabilitator may be able to help if an injured turtle is found.
DEC reminds
people not to take turtles home. All native turtles are protected by law
and cannot be kept without a DEC permit. Most of the 11 species of land
turtles that are 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. Anyone that encounters a sea turtle on the beach should not
put it back in the water, instead the public is advised to 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.
Follow
@NYSDEC's social media accounts on May 23 for more information about
turtles in the state.
Snapping Turtle
Painted Turtle
Wood Turtle
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