Two rescues in one day

gumpus · Jun 7, 2025

The snapper is about the size of a half dollar and probably one day old. Every year we see the little guys and way too many get squished by cars so sometimes we help them get to the river.

The box turtle "ran" out in front of my car so I had to stop. It couldn't quite climb the curb (although the climbing technique was excellent) so I gave it a boost.

Alan Gage · Jun 7, 2025

Nice saves. On my normal walk they created a carp barrier consisting of large rocks to keep carp from traveling from the lake to the slough. In the spring turtles heading to the slough fall into the gaps in the rocks and get stuck. I check every day or two. Usually about a dozen each year.

MyKneesHurt · Jun 7, 2025

I'm a sucker for turtles. Glad you helped those two out.

Erica · Jun 7, 2025

Thank you for saving the turtles. I save them too. Stopped several lanes of traffic to pick up a large turtle, put him in the well of the passenger seat and took him out to a strand where he rapidly moved across the ground and into the water.

SouthernKevlar · Jun 7, 2025

As I walk my dog along the road by our neighborhood's small lake, I usually help several turtles along during each of the warm months. They are mostly Painted Turtles, Snapping Turtles and Box turtles. The Snappers usually get moved along with the help of a large stick, but at least they are safely out of the road.

gumpus · Jun 8, 2025

SouthernKevlar said:
As I walk my dog along the road by our neighborhood's small lake, I usually help several turtles along during each of the warm months. They are mostly Painted Turtles, Snapping Turtles and Box turtles. The Snappers usually get moved along with the help of a large stick, but at least they are safely out of the road.

One time I had to leave a snapper in the road because I could not find a stick and the turtle made it very clear that it didn't want my help.

Gamma1214 · Jun 8, 2025

You can safely pick up snappers by the tail (admittedly, it IS safer to use sticks, shovels & buckets). Unlike other turtles, their mouths can reach every other part of their bodies

SouthernKevlar · Jun 8, 2025

If I were a turtle, I think that I would rather walk along while being herded with a stick than having someone grabbing my tail.
Personally, wouldn't want to risk a foot-wide Snapper getting a taste of me!

Two rescues in one day

gumpus

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