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A Girl Scouts Silver Award project to promote protecting turtles and keep them safe!
Keep turtles safe when they are crossing the street
Keep turtles safe when they are crossing the street
My goal is to inform the Windham, New Hampshire community about where and when turtles cross the street to reduce their injury or death.
Written by: Adelina Peterson
in preparation for her Silver Award Project
Cadette Girl Scout in Troop 51466
Turtles get injured or die while crossing the streets
Turtles get injured or die while crossing the streets
Turtles are more active in warm weather and may move more after rain in April through September. The mother turtle crosses the street from the water to go lay eggs in the sand, but could be killed or injured while crossing the street. Baby turtles crossing the street to get to the water in late summer through fall can get killed or injured by cars, bikes, or even people not paying attention to baby turtles while walking. Finally, male turtles also get injured or killed if they are crossing the road while searching for a new habitat, food, or mates.
Mom turtles who are crossing to lay eggs could be carrying over a dozen eggs! It takes a long time for a female turtle to be able to carry eggs. It takes about 10-15 years for a female to reach breeding age! The turtles you see making that slow crawl in May are the very ones the local population can't afford to lose.
How do they die?
How do they die?
Turtles in my town, Windham, NH, die naturally of old age. Others can die due to being run over by vehicles, like the one on the left. Sadly, baby turtles get killed so easily. A moving car most likely will not see the turtle and kill it.
When and why do turtles cross the road?
When and why do turtles cross the road?
Turtles cross the road during April-September. Female turtles cross roads to get to the water so they can lay eggs. Turtles also cross roads after it rains. In the summer, they especially do this to keep cool.
Take Action: How to safely move a turtle across the street
Take Action: How to safely move a turtle across the street
Videos showing how to safely move a turtle across the street.
Very small turtles: Hold them gently on both sides of their shell, nice and low to the ground so they don't fall far if they wiggle!
Snapping turtles/ big size turtles: These ones are for grown-ups only! If an adult needs to move one, they hold it from the back of the shell, as you can see in the videos
How to move a snapping turtle specifically
Never carry a turtle by the tail, because the tail is connected to the turtle's spine and pulling it really hurts them.
Take Action: What to do if you see a live turtle on the road:
Take Action: What to do if you see a live turtle on the road:
Watch out for oncoming vehicles and make sure you, yourself, are safe.
Watch the turtle crossing the road until you see that it has crossed the road safely.
If the turtle is big you can use something (like a car mat) to gently encourage it/ slide it to keep moving in the same direction it is going.
If you carry it, you could wear gloves, and carry it from the back of the shell, not the sides. You have to be careful because some turtles can bite. It is better to just watch it/ encourage it to cross the road on its own.
turtlevideo.mp4Let the turtle go where it wants to go!
Let the turtle go where it wants to go!
Watch the turtle crossing the road and ensure it gets to safety. Let it go where it wants to go.
Never relocate a turtle to a different area!
Did you know you can report live turtles?
Did you know you can report live turtles?
For uninjured turtles on the road, you can report them to the NH Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program (RAARP).
You can fill out a report to report your turtle sighting in New Hampshire here. You can report rare or common types of turtles.
What to do if you see an injured turtle
What to do if you see an injured turtle
If you find an injured turtle that is still alive, immediately contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, such as NH Turtle Rescue at (603-417-4944) or NH Fish & Game at (603) 271-3421.
Place the turtle in a ventilated, dry, and secure container, such as a cardboard box, lined with a damp towel, and keep it in a quiet place. Don't put it back in the water, try to treat it yourself, or give it food.
Write down the exact location where the turtle was found, since it must be released there after rehabilitation.
Millstone Wildlife Center (MWC) is a home-based wildlife rehabilitation facility for injured and orphaned mammals located in Windham, NH. They do accept turtles but they also recommend the NH Turtle Rescue .
Raise the blade!
Raise the blade!
If you have turtles in your yard, raise the blade of the lawn mower up to at least 4-8 inches high, so that you don't unknowinly kill or injure the turtles while mowing the lawn.
Keep dogs away
Keep dogs away
If you know of a nesting area, supervise dogs because they could view turtles as toys, which could lead to fatal injuries.
Types of Turtles in New Hampshire
Painted Turtle
Painted Turtle
Painted turtles have colorful stripes on their neck and body. Although they are colorful, they are not poisonous.
Snapping Turtle
Snapping Turtle
Snapping turtles are usually big, have long tails, and have cone shaped heads. Beware of Snapping turtles, they can bite you with strong power.
Box Turtle
Box Turtle
Box turtles have orange on their necks and have a brown shell with some yellow areas. They are usually the size of a women's 10 shoe.
Blanding's Turtle
Blanding's Turtle
Blanding's turtle is endangered in NH. Its shell has small yellow spots that sometimes join together into lines. You can easily spot it when it’s resting in the sun because it has a bright yellow chin and throat. The shell can appear to be green due to green algae which can grow on the surface of their shells.
Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Spotted turtles (also called polka dot turtles) have yellow dots on their shells and orange dots on their body. They also have orange necks. They can't completely close themselves inside their shell.
Wood Turtle
Wood Turtle
Wood turtles look exactly like their name. They have a shell that looks like tree bark and orange undertones on their body.
Common Musk Turtle
Common Musk Turtle
This is a small turtle, about 2-5 inches long, with a smooth, rounded brown or black shell. It has yellow stripes on its head and tiny whiskers under its chin that help it sense things. It’s sometimes called a “stinkpot” because it can make a strong smell when scared and defending itself from predators.
Pictures of Turtles from Around Windham, New Hampshire
Thank you to all the Windham residents who shared their pictures.
Locations of turtles in Windham, NH
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