Holliston PD Warn Drivers To Watch For Turtles Crossing

HOLLISTON, MA — Spring is here and the turtles are out and about. Holliston police are reminding drivers to pay extra close attention to the roads to avoid hitting a passing turtle.

In a tweet, police said they already received several calls about turtles in the roads. The department even said it has had close encounters with some of the turtles.

"The past few years, we've had a house guest of our own that usually lays her eggs under the Moon Tree at the station," the department tweeted.

Most turtles who are crossing the road are searching for either a nesting spot or for food. MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program explains that even if it seems like you don't know where the turtles are headed, turtles have a keen sense of direction and may be on their way to wetlands or open, upland sites such as lawns, gravel pits, or roadsides for nesting. If you find a turtle, do not move it far away.

MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program offers these tips on what to do if you see a turtle in the road:

1. Be safe. Do not risk getting hurt or causing harm to others by unsafely pulling off the road or trying to dodge traffic. If the opportunity to safely move a turtle from the road occurs, move it in the direction it was heading and off the edge of the road. The turtle is trying to get to habitats and resources it needs and knows. Do not take turtles home or move them to a "better” location; turtles should not be moved more than 100 yards from where they are found. Most turtles should be grasped gently along the shell edge near the mid-point of the body. However, snapping turtles are fast and have very powerful jaws that can inflict a bad bite. A snapping turtle can reach your hands if you lift it by the sides of its shell. If you must move a snapping turtle, use a broom to coax it into a plastic tub or box. Never lift a snapping turtle only by the tail; this can injure their spine.
2. Slow down. Watch for turtles on roadways bordered by wetlands on both sides. These areas are commonly used as crossing points. Also, remember areas where you’ve seen turtles crossing in the past. Turtles are animals of repetition and chances are, more turtles will likely cross there or somewhere close by.
3. Inform us. If you see turtles crossing the road, report it! Information that you provide on the Linking Landscapes online portal helps MassWildlife and MassDOT prioritize transportation projects to help turtles and other wildlife safely cross roads and keep drivers safe. Just as importantly, contact your town Conservation Commission and local conservation partners to evaluate resources within your town to help turtles. Signage, barrier fencing, or seasonal speed bumps help reduce roadkill.