SHAWANO, WI- With the arrival of baby animal season in Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources is reminding the public to be alert for turtles crossing roads, especially during nesting season.
“Turtles like snapping turtles and Blanding’s turtles often nest in the gravel shoulders of roadways, which puts them at risk of being hit,” said Jaqi Christopher of the Wisconsin DNR. “It’s important to report sightings, especially of species like Blanding’s turtles, which are a species of concern, and wood turtles, which are endangered.”
The DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation team has a reporting tool on its website where residents can log turtle crossings to help biologists track populations and nesting habits. Christopher also encourages drivers who see a turtle in the road to stop safely and help it cross, but only in the direction it’s heading.
“If you turn it around, it’s just going to try to cross again,” she explained. “Use caution, snapping turtles can bite, and most turtles might pee on you, but if it’s safe to do so, helping them across the road can really make a difference.”
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