Does the turtle need your help?
Most turtles do not need to be brought into rehab unless they have obvious injuries. If the turtle has an injury, make sure you write down exactly where you found it. Turtles live their entire lives in a one mile radius. If they are removed from their home, they will spend the rest of their lives trying to get back to it.
If you find a turtle in the road, make sure you move it to the side of the road in the direction it was headed; otherwise, it will just keep trying to cross the road again.
Tips for helping turtles
- Assist turtles crossing a road by carrying them across in the direction they’re headed. Many turtles crossing roads are egg-laden females looking for appropriate nesting sites.
- Do NOT relocate a turtle to a “better place”. Turtles have small home territories and should be left where they are found. Their survival depends on it!
- Don’t keep wild turtles as a pets. If you truly desire a pet reptile and can make all of the commitments necessary to keeping a healthy, happy turtle, please look into adopting. You can call and speak to a staff member at City Wildlife for advice on where to adopt and how to care for a pet turtle.
- Watch out for turtles and other wildlife when mowing lawns and doing other yard-work.
- Keep domestic animals indoors or on leashes. Free-roaming dogs and cats injure and kill millions of wild animals each year.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling a turtle.
Eastern Box Turtles are safe to pick up, but some turtles, such as Snapping Turtles, are not. If you have found a Snapping Turtle or you are not sure what type of turtle you have found, call City Wildlife for assistance before attempting to rescue it.
