With all the rain we’ve been getting over the last few weeks, the natives are getting restless. These three box turtles were in our driveway the other day — glad I looked before pulling out of the garage!
Eastern box turtles are particularly active on rainy days in May through June, and we have certainly had our share of rain lately! According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries…
The best thing to do for any turtle you see in a yard is to leave it alone. They instinctively know what direction to go when they are on their own. Relocating them will cause them to search for where they were headed and create more hazards. Turtles that are out and about, whether to lay eggs or to search for a new source of water and other resources, are best left alone.
What should you do if you see a turtle on the road? If it is possible, safely go to the turtle and move it to the far side of the road in the direction it was traveling. Safely means parking your own car off the road and not exposing yourself to getting hit. Do not risk your life, or the lives of others on the road, to save one.
For more information on turtles, visit the Virginia Herpetological Society website.
