Wildlife, Fish & Marine Life Newsletter

Each May and June, Motorists Should be on the Alert for Turtles Crossing the Road 

Our native turtles are on the move in May and June seeking sandy areas or loose soil to lay their eggs. In New York, thousands of turtles are killed each year when they are struck by vehicles as they migrate to their nesting areas.

What you can do to help:   

• If you see a turtle on the road, please give turtles ‘a brake’. Slow down to avoid hitting it with your car.   
• If you can safely stop your vehicle, please consider moving the turtle to the shoulder on the side of the road in the direction it was facing.   
• Picking the turtle up by its tail may frighten or injure it. Most turtles can be picked up by the sides of the shell.  
• Use caution when moving snapping turtles; either pick them up at the rear of the shell near the tail using two hands, or slide a car mat under the turtle to drag them across the road. 
• Please do not take turtles home. All native turtles are protected by law and cannot be kept without a permit. Most of the eleven species of land turtles that are native to New York are declining. Even losing one mature female can have a negative impact on a local population. 

Photo of NY’s official state reptile, the snapping turtle, by Stephanie Stewart.

What to Do When Encountering Young Wildlife — If You Care, Leave Them There

As spring moves into full bloom, you may encounter young or newborn wild animals. While a baby animal might appear abandoned, it is much more likely that a parent is in the area or the individual is an independent juvenile. Please do not touch a wild baby animal – call your regional DEC office or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if you are concerned for its well-being.

Many wildlife parents leave their young in a safe place, where they instinctively remain quiet and still to avoid detection by predators. The parents return periodically (sometimes only a few times within 24 hours) to feed the young. Fawns, cottontail rabbits, and fledgling birds are the most common species that are mistakenly “rescued” by people thinking that the animals have been abandoned. Unfortunately, this leads to the death of many young animals, as wildlife is difficult to raise in captivity. It is also illegal to rehabilitate or keep wildlife in captivity without a license. DEC also reminds people that young wildlife are not pets.

If you come across a young, wild animal on its own, the best thing to do is leave it where it is and observe from a distance. The parents may not approach their young if they sense you in the vicinity. You can find more information on young wildlife on the DEC website.

Photo of white-tailed deer fawn by Annette Smith-Wright.

National Wetlands Month Species Profile

To continue highlighting the importance of wetlands this month and the species that live there, read below to learn about one of the most at-risk turtles in the northeastern United States.

Blanding’s Turtle — A “Turtley” Awesome Smile
This wetland lover’s beak is curved upwards at the corners of the mouth, creating a sense that the turtle is smiling at you. The Blanding’s turtle inhabits a variety of wetlands including marshes, swamps, and flood plains. However, individual turtles will travel over land considerable distances to reach sandy or gravelly areas to lay eggs, and vernal pools where they will feast on amphibian egg masses, larval amphibians, crustaceans, plants, and other organisms throughout the spring. Blanding’s turtles are easy to identify by their bright yellow throat that is often exposed as these large turtles hold their heads high while basking on logs and hummocks.

This “smiley” turtle is listed as Threatened in New York State. It's likely that fewer than 3,000 individuals of this gentle turtle species remain in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania combined. With so few left, losses to the illegal pet trade and introduced diseases make their situation even more precarious. Blanding’s turtles are most threatened by habitat loss and degradation and are easily harmed or killed by vehicles on roads during their overland movements. To help New York conserve this species, you can watch out for turtles on roads, especially during their nesting season from late May to July and avoid haying and mowing fields during this time. If you are lucky enough to see one, leave it in the wild, take a photo, and report the observation to your regional DEC wildlife office.

Photo of Blanding’s turtle by M.T. Jones.