Turtles!

[Feralpeg]

Is it turtle mating season? They seem to be on the move here! Yesterday, twice, I had to hit the brakes to keep from running over a turtle. I was just lucky no one was close behind me.

The first time was on WDW property. It looked to me like a gopher turtle. He had already made it across three lanes of traffic. He was moving at a good clip (for a turtle). He passed by me and started across the lanes going the other direction. I was waiting for the light to change. A Pizza delivery person just missed him. Finally, the light changed and a car stopped to block the traffic for him to make it the rest of the way across the road.

Later in the day, I was heading home with my daughter and sister when I spotted a huge snapping turtle crossing a two lane road. He was moving slow!!! I managed to stop, but then, I couldn't see him. A very impatient driver behind me kept honking at me. I was trying to see where the turtle was before moving, but I couldn't see him. Finally, I started moving very slowly. He came scurrying out across the next lane. I must have nudged him. Fortunately, I saw a car coming in the other lane and I flashed my lights at it. The lady stopped and let the turtle finish its journey.

I see turtles fairly often here, but not usually two on the same day that I have to stop for. I'm going to end up being rear ended if this continues.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I have seen it too, and also wondered. So I looked it up...

After the major rains have passed (and really FL has had some rain),

-Some turtles are leaving for slower moving water (rain increase the flow of most lakes, creeks, rivers
-Males are in pursuit of a mating partner
-Females are in pursuit of a mating partner (hah, I would think they would be running away)
-Females will move about after a good rain so they can find a safe non-flooded area to lay eggs (the eggs will drown if they get submerged in a puddle)
-do not forget that water turtle prefer to stay wet, so moving around after a rain helps with this problem
-water turtles can not swallow without the aid of water to help take the food down the throat.

Okay, the last one was just a cool fact, but hope this helps.

 

[Justanopinion]

Around here,Texas, we call it Turtle crossing season. In usually lasts about 2 weeks.

Since we are a small town, it is not uncommon to see people stopped and picking them up to get them off the road.

I don't know exactly how it started but about 3 years ago people starting bringing us turtles. We now have 10-12 of them and 2 babies were born this year. We keep them in two different pens in the back yard. Feed them all sorts of fruits and vegetables.

They are so fun. DH actually baths them about once a week. Brings them in the house and scrubs down their shells.

 

[diesel]

Around here,Texas, we call it Turtle crossing season. In usually lasts about 2 weeks.

Since we are a small town, it is not uncommon to see people stopped and picking them up to get them off the road.

I don't know exactly how it started but about 3 years ago people starting bringing us turtles. We now have 10-12 of them and 2 babies were born this year. We keep them in two different pens in the back yard. Feed them all sorts of fruits and vegetables.

They are so fun. DH actually baths them about once a week. Brings them in the house and scrubs down their shells.

Is it legal to be keeping these turtles? Wouldn't they be better off in the wild?

 

[mum4jenn]

THere was a turtle in our front yard the other day. I went back out about 5 minutes later and it was gone!!

 

[swandiverpatt]

I've been seeing the turtles crossing the roads, too.

I also hear if you stop and "help them across the road" -- you should take them to the side they were heading to. If you take them back to where they started, they'll just continue out in the road again!

 

[Meriweather]

The WDW bus ahead of ours last week stopped and th driver got out and moved a turtle out of the road. Had quite a back up behind, but glad she did that.

 

[Feralpeg]

I saw another one this afternoon. Fortunately, this one had made it across the road and was about to head off into the wild. I didn't have to stop for this one.

Thanks for the info, Tinker'n'Fun. That explains a lot!