So you found a turtle in the Road…

 Jeff H.

So you found a Turtle in the road…what exactly do you do?

Well you have several options…

Do Nothing

Move it out of the road

Move it to a more suitable habitat

Take it home

Generally, the best option would be number 2, but we’ll take a look at each option.

In the do nothing option, you do exactly what it says, nothing. You simply avoid the turtle and continue on your way. This is probably the best option if you’re on an interstate or if the turtle is close to leaving the road. Another time this might be a good option is if someone is right behind you. You don’t want to be rear ended by another vehicle.

In the moving it out of the road option, you move the turtle to the other side of the road in the direction it was heading. In this option, you are simply making its travel across the road a lot quicker. Be sure you are moving it to the side it was heading, if you move it to the side it came from, it could simply turn around and go the other direction. You will need to use caution with this option. Not every driver on the road is as cautious and observant as you may think. There have been several cases of people getting hit when trying to help a turtle across the road. Also, rubberneckers could hit you or your car if they’re more interested in seeing what is happening than driving.

In the moving it to a more suitable habitat option, all the precautions above should be taken. If there is no habitat in the area the turtle is found, it may be suitable to release that turtle in a better location. An example would be in a town (such as a RES on an interstate exit ramp in downtown Little Rock). Other examples would be in areas of construction. It is generally not recommended to move turtles from their home range, but it may be necessary in certain circumstances.

In the take it home option, you pick up the turtle from the road and take it home. Generally this option is not recommended. Wild caught turtles can harbor many types of diseases and parasites. There’s a chance they could die if not properly treated. Rare species should not be taken under any circumstances. A lot of states have regulations on the taking of protected turtles, even if they are injured. You should know your state regulations before taking a turtle off the road. Most turtles you would find on the road are now captive bred in sufficient numbers. A captive bred turtle is a much better choice than a wild caught animal.

What do you do if the turtle is injured? An injured turtle should be taken to a veterinarian if state law allows the possession of the specific species. Otherwise, the turtle should be left alone, or the state agency responsible for managing turtles should be contacted. Turtles have been around for millions of years, they can survive some amazing injuries.