Three times a year, in early spring, late spring, and late August, our resident snapping and painted turtles cross roads and risk getting hit by cars.

Early spring (late March through April) is the time of year when the turtles leave the surrounding wetlands to move back into the lake after the long winter. Late spring (late May through mid-June) is when they leave the lake to nest. Late August is when the tiny turtles hatch from their eggs and head for the lake.

Many painted turtles get crushed by drivers so please drive slowly and cautiously at these times to help protect these amazing animals.  If you see one on the road and wish to help, make sure you put it across the road in the direction it was headed, otherwise it will just turn around and keep going back until its business is done.  If you are driving, do not risk your safety, but if you think you can stop safely, pull over to a safe spot and keep your hazard lights on.

Snapping turtles can get very large, and are calm in the water and avoid humans. On land, they feel threatened and will defend themselves.  Do not try and move a snapper unless you feel confident in securing it by the rear half of the shell or rear legs.  Do not hold it by the tail as it can break the vertebrae. Snapping turtles can reach halfway back, to the sides, and below so keep your legs and nether regions away as they can inflict severe pain and injury!

These turtles are vital to the ecosystem of the lake. Hatchlings are food for herons, largemouth bass, raccoons, and bullfrogs. Adults of both species are omnivores, and even eat aquatic plants and some algae. Adult snapping turtles prey on animals as large as young muskrats, water snakes, duckings and goslings. They also consume dead organisms and help recycle nutrients in the lake. As few as 2-3% of hatchling turtles are expected to reach adulthood in the absence of motorized vehicles. Watch out for these ancient reptiles on the move!

Some turtle tips:

• If you see a turtle on the road, please give it “a brake”. Slow down to avoid hitting it with your car.

• If you can safely stop your vehicle, please consider moving the turtle to the shoulder on the side of the road in the direction it was facing.

• Use caution when moving snapping turtles; either pick her up at the rear of the shell near the tail using two hands, or slide a car mat under the turtle to drag her across the road.

• Please do not take turtles home. All native turtles are protected by law and cannot be kept without a permit. All 11 species of land turtles that are native to New York are declining.