Caution: Slow Down And Save A Life, It's Turtle Nesting Season

NEW JERSEY -Turtles have a tough enough time trying to survive without getting struck by cars as they try to find a place to lay their eggs.

That's the message the state Department of Environmental Protection hopes motorists will heed and drive with caution this summer. New Jersey's turtles are active and moving across roadways to find places to lay eggs.

Turtles will often travel long distances and cross roadways to find "just the right spot" to lay their eggs so they can survive, according to a DEP release.

"As a result, turtles are at significant risk of being struck by vehicles," the release states. "Turtles are particularly vulnerable because they are slow moving and their defense mechanism is usually to stop and withdraw into their shell when feeling threatened."

Diamondback terrapins, the state's only saltmarsh turtle, are most commonly found in coastal areas. The risk of strikes increases when summer bring more traffic to shore areas.

Also on the move this season are Eastern box, Eastern painted, wood and snapping turtles. All of New Jersey's turtle species lay eggs by digging a hole in the ground, depositing the eggs, and then covering the nest with soil.

"This puts them in great danger as they frequently have to cross roadways to find the right location," DEP Acting Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said. " We encourage motorists to drive cautiously so the turtles can cross roads and arrive to their nesting destination safely."

The terrapin population dropped sharply in the 1930s, primarily because they were harvested for food. Although the numbers increased in the 1960s, terrapins today are at risk from habitat loss, drowning in crab traps and being struck by vehicles.

Terrapins are the only turtles in New Jersey that live in brackish water in coastal estuaries. Adult females leave their habitats during nesting season to find suitable locations to lay eggs. They look for areas with sand and gravel above the high tide line.

"Loss of coastal habitat has increased mortality risk as diamondback terrapins search for these nesting areas," the release says. "Terrapin nests are often along roadsides, increasing the risk of vehicle strikes."

Here's some tips from the DEP to help turtles get safely across roadways:

* Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and those ahead, to see any turtles in the roadway.

*Use caution to avoid hitting a turtle in the road, but do not swerve suddenly, leave the lane of travel or stop abruptly. Always keep your safety and the safety of others in mind.

* Watch for oncoming vehicles, signal properly when pulling over and activate vehicle hazard signals if you decide to pull over to assist a turtle crossing a road. Allow turtles to safely cross roads unaided if a lack of oncoming traffic allows them to do so.

* Handle turtles gently and avoid excessive handling if it is necessary to pick them up. Most turtles can be picked up by the side of their shells near the mid-point of the body. Do not pick up a turtle by its tail, as doing so may frighten or injure the reptile. Wear gloves or wash your hands after handling a turtle.

* Move the turtle in the direction that it is heading. It may seem helpful to assist the turtle by moving it to a nearby waterbody, but the turtle may not be heading toward water. A turtle will turn around if it is put in the wrong direction.

* Only experienced handlers should ever attempt to lift a snapping turtle. The safest way to assist snapping turtles is to use branches or similar objects to prod them along from behind.

* Never take a turtle into your personal possession. All native turtles are protected in New Jersey.

* Do not disturb a nesting turtle and keep children and pets away from it. Most turtle eggs will hatch in 60 to 80 days. A small cage can be placed around the nest to offer some additional protection for the first 30 to 45 days, but it must be removed before the hatchlings emerge. The DEP does not relocate turtles found in yards or turtle nests.

To learn more about New Jersey's turtles, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/herps_info.htm

For a list of wildlife rehabilitators, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/rehab_list.pdf

Photos: diamondback terrapin; snapping turtle, Courtesy of New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection.