June is the prime time when turtles are on the move to find spots to lay their eggs in. Why they travel so far, who knows? They could be following some ancestral pathways that existed long before roads and houses. If you see a turtle in the road, and it's safe for you to do so, move the turtle to the side of the road it was headed toward. Snapping turtles can be picked up behind the midway point, near the rear of their shell - their heads don't reach that far. Never pick up turtles by their tails. The distance they travel from their home base can be amazing. Which leads me to wonder, why do Mallards nest far from water, then lead their newly-hatched young on a long trek that's fraught with hazards like roads, storm drains, leaping off tall buildings? Meredith Sampson Old Greenwich ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Brian Webster <b.webster@hotmail.com> To: CT Birding <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Nonbirding tale Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:55:42 -0400 As I just found out, and was then told, Box, painted and snapping turtles are nesting now. (found two ravaged turtle nests yesterday). I think I see more snappers this time of the year crossing roads (Roosevelt!!) than in ponds/swamps/wherever. They cross roads to lay their eggs away from the body of water in the dirt/banks. I've always wondered why mother turtles force their babies to walk the gauntlet before enjoying life.... good early life lesson I suppose. I'm am certainly no expert, but that seems to be a logical answer. -Brian Webster- ---------------------------------------- > To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:09:33 -0500 > From: dmrlizdbear@juno.com > Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Nonbirding tale > > I have had a similar experience twice in the past week in different > locations. Does anyone know if this is because of the heavy rain, or are > the turtles moving for another reason? > > -Paula > Milford > > On Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:56:50 -0400 "Pat Dufour" > writes: >> Yesterday on Route 3 in Rocky Hill, there was traffic stopped ahead. >> Everyone was slowly going around a good size turtle as it was >> attempting to cross the road. It seemed to be limping but had a >> very determine look in it's eye ( I couldn't really see it's eye ) >> and I was pleased and amazed that so many drivers were being so >> careful to let the turtle keep going on it's way. >> Pat. >> _______________________________________________ >> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association >> (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. >> For subscription information visit >> http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOVoJjpiyh2MuSgVTuJiBJUF5HnVyw5ApL9rYijwANwske3pwthZ2/