I brake for turtles!

[Dugger]

Snapping turtles and Painted turtles are on the roads this week crossing to lay their eggs on the soft shoulders. I have picked three off the road right in front of my home this week. Sadly, it appears some *%$@** !! went out of their way to run over one older Painted in front of my driveway.

Keep your eyes peeled on Ontario's roadways this week and next!

The little guys need our help and the suggestion put forth by provincial "turtle people" is to take the turtle off the road and place it on the shoulder, off the road, in the direction it was going.

Now for an obscure movie quote .... "Am I not turtle enough for the Turtle Club??? Turtleeee Turtleeee!"

 

[remyboy1]

I did that with a snapper once--my arm was almost removed.

 

[NADO]

Same thing happened with some painted turtles around my area a few weeks ago. I saw one crossing the road so I pulled over and helped it along its way in the direction it was going. I posted on my Facebook warning people to watch out for turtles crossing, the very next day I drove by and there was two turtles that had been run over, two days later a third.....

Last year I stumbled upon a really sad site. A huge snapper had been run over multiple times but was still alive. I couldnt believe it, this was in broad daylight and there must have been 100's of cars that drove by and not a single person stopped to help the turtle off the road. I picked it up and put it in a big tupperware container to bring to the local turtle sanctuaty, unfortunately it was too far gone and they had to euthanize it. I believe it was the dehydration from being in the hot sun on the road all day that killed it which is really sad because if someone would have helped it earlier the snapper may have lived.

I woudlnt have even thought to bring it to the turtle sanctuary but they told me that you would be surprised by the amount of damage turtles can revover from so if you see a turtle that has been run over dont euthanize it. Either bring it to a safe place or if there is a turtle sanctuary near by call them and see if you can drop it off.

 

[Dugger]

god eh, heartbreaking... still no respect after 40 million years

 

[Alfiegee]

Im working on Howe Island in the1000 Islands this week. At the ferry crossing there are signs that state On has 8 native turtles and 7 of them are endangered. Sad, help our turtle friends.

Alfie

 

[Dugger]

Wow, Howe Island is gorgeous eh, Alfie. 7 out of 8 are having a hard go of it.... hopefully that ratio can be turned around but knowing human kind I am not holding my breath. I wonder how many examples there are of those numbers actually being turned around in the world... it's like watching sand trickle down an hour glass.

 

[chris f]

haven't come across any down where i'm at but , thanks for the heads up dugger if i see any needing assistance i will try to help them out

 

[rich_ace_G]

Everytime I see them...I'm really tempted to spray paint them with neon orange. It seems more and more people don't see them or just don't care.

 

[Dugger]

atta boy, Chris!

Rich, that's a very interesting idea you have there. Hmmmmmmm.....

 

[miles]

I nurse told me a woman came into emerg this week with the end of her finger to the first knuckle missing, she was trying to help a big snapper across the road, I think its best to grab them as far back as you can on the shell.

 

[NADO]

they are very tough to pick up. I saw some guys turtle hunting by hand on tv and they were grabbing them by the tail, im not sure how strong their tails are as it looked tough on the turtle. I pick them up between their legs closer to the back legs than the front but the trouble is that their feet have sharp nails. Their feet can pretty much reach any point on their shell and when you pick them up they try to scrape your hands off. The last one I picked up cut up my hands pretty good so its best to do it with gloves if you can. If not u just gotta tough it out and do it quick! lol

 

[Alfiegee]

Wow, Howe Island is gorgeous eh, Alfie. 7 out of 8 are having a hard go of it.... hopefully that ratio can be turned around but knowing human kind I am not holding my breath. I wonder how many examples there are of those numbers actually being turned around in the world... it's like watching sand trickle down an hour glass.

 

[Alfiegee]

Oops. Howe Island is nice Dugger. A funny thing happened today. 1 of the guys caught a small Pike at lunch and decided to leave it on a stringer. At the end of the day he returned to find a well eaten fish. Snapping Turtle?

Alfie

 

[Hardwaterlover]

Turtle you say ? meet Gilfred... :razz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NitmNrlFLt4

 

[driftman]

I think the best way to get them off the road is to slide them off using a stick but do it gently with respect for the turtle....it's not a hockey puck