Spring is here: baby turtle edition

[beowulf]

I was walking from my truck when I happened to look down and see not one, but two baby turtles in the town hall parking lot this morning.

A little more investigating, and I managed to relocate several more out of the parking lot and onto soft soil - looks like there is a small pond they were trying to get to just off the lot. Unfortunately one seems to have been run over and didn’t make it. The rest were quite indignant to be picked up and moved. Seems a little early - we usually don’t have to relocate the very angry snapper that visits us yearly until May, but these look like painted turtles. Never knew they were so cute as babies!

Enjoy.

[chestnutmarebeware]

I wish I lived in an area where I would see baby turtles! These are adorable.

It’s also the start of “stop the car and rescue the Eastern box turtles out of the road” season.

Sadly, around here plenty of sociopaths go out of their way to run over these turtles, plus any other wildlife unlucky enough to get within 10-15 feet of roads. I’ve personally seen several instances of people (men) veering off the road onto the far side of the shoulder to deliberately hit a rabbit or groundhog.

I really hope karma exists!

[beowulf]

Oh that is awful - I have seen it myself. One year I pulled over close to my house to help a turtle, was waving people past so I could get it safely, and the last vehicle in the queue was a tractor trailer and he deliberately ran it over. I’m with you, I am sure there is karma out there for folks like that.

[ShenanAnna]

Oh, yeah. Not only the spiritual sort of karma but the feedback/consequences from people seeing that type of behavior.

[Mohan]

Awww cute turtle!

What is wrong with people! I am that person that will hit a tree to avoid an animal even though that’s not what you are supposed to do. I can’t imagine targeting one.

[Rackonteur]

Ooooh squee! Precious baby. I love turtles.

[goodhors]

That sure is a cutie! Glad you spotted him and then the siblings, to get them to a better location for survival. I am a sucker for turtles, stop to pick them up, move them off the road or to a wet location.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Years ago I did come across a snapping turtle the size of a garbage can lid on the county road I lived on. Not having experience with them I thought I could grab the lip of shell in two places and move it off the road.

That snapper wheeled around and did his best to maim me! He was NOT happy. Needless to say, I left him to his own devices on the road!

[goodhors]

Snappers have REALLY long necks, can reach back pretty far. Sometimes you can offer a LONG heavy stick to bite on, then drag them off the road. They DO NOT let go if they grab things, you or the stick! Do drag/ go in the direction turtles were aimed or they turn around and go right back on the road!! Same with painted turtles, help them along in THEIR direction of travel…

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

I watched a game warden on some Animal Planet show pick up a snapper by the shell just behind the head, and just over the tail, and carry him that way, but he was a big guy and his arms were a lot longer than mine!

When I had to move a snapper off the road, I grabbed a sweatshirt out of my car and let him grab it, then dragged him across. A friend of mine did the same, except he covered the snapper’s head with the hood of the shirt and picked him up and moved him. He said the snapper was mad, but the hood contained him a little bit.

[moonlitoaksranch]

Hahaha! I can imagine!

When we lived in Florida, we had one that the cows were about to get into it with because he was in the mud by their water trough. The bull was blowing snot and throwing his head. The cows were crowded up behind him watching. Big snapper. I scooped him up with the manure fork and carried him to the other side of the road where the lake is. The bull didn’t have to lose face with his cows by bellowing and running like a big baby with an angry reptile hanging off his lip.

Fun fact: turtles are actually reptiles rather than amphibians, even if they spend most of their lives in the water. They lay eggs with shells on land, lack permeable skin that can absorb oxygen, and don’t go through a life stage with gills.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

That reminds me of the time Alex met a snapper in the pasture. He put his nose down to sniff it and the turtle came within centimeters of getting a chunk of his muzzle. Never saw a horse leap backwards so fast!

[Rackonteur]

I love amphibians and reptiles. I prefer reptiles with legs when i meet them outdoors or indoors (and we don’t have alligators here!)
I was thrilled to meet a legged amphibian outside my building about dusk one evening last year. It was too dark to see more than his shape and movement and when i told my neighbor i hadn’t been able tell if he was a frog or a toad, my neighbor tried to tell me they’re the same thing.

[ZuzusPetals]

I keep coming back to this photo. It hatched with those wee claws all ready to go. Someone looked out for his little life. It’s almost too adorable to think about.