when we lived in Michigan, we used to get them all the time. This time of year too. They seemed to migrate from the lake to the woods. I am pretty sure they hibernate in the winter--in Michigan at least. If your kids are pushing, tell them they aren't allowed by law to keep it as a pet--in Indiana at least. ;o) Hubby was on his way to work one day, one was in the road, he did a Uey and before he could get back to it to move it someone hit it. He had a box in his car, put the turtle in it, brought it home and we called DNR and they pointed us to the right people to care for it. She wasn't badly hurt but her shell was cracked. The lady who picked her up from me explained that they were protected and had to have specific location of where she was found so that when she was well she would be released to where she came from. I told her my kids were asking about keeping her when she was better and that is when she told me that. I don't know if it's true or not but I really didn't want a turtle as a pet, so it sounded good to me.