It's snapping turtle breeding season in New Canaan and that means residents should expect to see increased activity of what look like rocks crossing the street all on their own.
Officer Mary Ann Kleinschmitt said Monday alone she'd already responded to two calls about turtles in someone's yard.
"The females will lay about 100 to 200 eggs and then head back to the water " Kleinschmitt said. "If you see one don't touch it. They can take an adult finger right off. If you have on in your yard, keep your pet leashed or indoors until she's done her business and moves on."
Kleinschmitt said, if one is seen in the road, slowly go around it or pick it up with a shovel from behind and move it to the side of the road in the direction it is heading. Moving it in the opposite direction will just make it turn around and head back into the street, she said.
She also said though the number of eggs per turtle sounds like a lot, only one or two of the babies ever reach adulthood.
"On land, birds, foxes and raccoons will get to them," Kleinschmitt said. "If they make it back to the water, they still have to survive long enough to grow big enough that water predators like geese and heron don't eat them."
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