Dane County Humane Society’s (DCHS’s) Wildlife Center admitted seven turtles in a span of just over 24 hours, all suffering from injuries after being struck by vehicles. This is the time of year when turtles are on the move, risking their lives to cross roads in search of breeding opportunities, food, or the perfect nesting spot to lay eggs.

A Western painted turtle and a common map turtle were admitted on Tuesday, June 3, followed by a common map turtle, a painted turtle, and three common snapping turtles on Wednesday, June 4. Two more turtles were already scheduled to be admitted on Thursday, June 5.

Too many turtles run over by vehicles can cause Wisconsin’s turtle population to significantly decline. Turtles require many years to grow large enough to breed so the loss of any adult, breeding-age turtle takes a toll on the population. 

Members of the public can help save turtles by being on the lookout for them in roadways, slowing down when driving near wetlands, and helping them safely cross roads. When helping turtles, please be mindful not to put yourself or others in danger. 

Below are a few guidelines to follow when helping a turtle:

• Don't put yourself or others in danger on a busy road. If you’re unable to stop for a turtle crossing the road, put on your hazards, slow down, and go around it. Putting your hazards on is enough to get people to slow down to allow the turtle to cross safely.
• When helping a turtle cross a road, always move them across in the same direction they were already heading, even if they are heading away from an apparent water source. Do not relocate the turtle to a place you think is more suitable. Simply move them to the other side of the road they are crossing and let them go on their way. Moving them in the opposite direction or relocating them altogether can make their journey longer and more dangerous as they will reroute back to their original destination.
• Never pick a turtle up by their tail as this can cause severe spinal damage. You can safely hold a turtle along the back edge of their shell without getting bitten.
• If you don't feel safe picking the turtle up, you can use a blunt object such as a stick, shovel, ice scraper or other similar item you may already have in your car to push them across the road, or utilize a car mat to put under them and then slide them across the road. Large snapping turtles can be a bit intimidating for people to help. Check out this video that demonstrates some safe options for moving a snapping turtle off the road.
• Turtles are very resilient. If you see an injured turtle along the roadside, please pick it up and transport it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator even if you are not sure it is alive. Even if the turtle has passed away, it may have eggs that can be saved and incubated. Once hatched, the babies can be released back into the habitat that the mother had occupied.
• Be sure to wash your hands after handling a turtle.
• Report your sighting to the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, a citizen-based monitoring program aimed at identifying high-mortality locations along roads in order to better conserve Wisconsin's eleven turtle species.

If you find an ill, injured or orphaned wild animal you believe is in need of assistance, learn more here. New patients are admitted by appointment only so please contact DCHS's Wildlife Center at (608) 287-3235 before intervening. Knowledgeable staff and trained volunteers are happy to talk you through the next steps.