You won’t get far on your summer road trip without seeing a turtle cross the road right now, especially in Door County. Female turtles are on the move as they forage and look for a spot to lay their eggs, a seasonal move that occurs between late May and early July. Whether you spot a turtle in your yard or come across an injured one, knowing what to do is important to help keep wildlife safe.

“Most of the turtles you’re seeing hit on the roads at this time of year or the majority of them are going to be female because they’re moving from an overwintering or spring habitat and then they’re making their way to the uplands because they need a dry site to lay their eggs,” said Rori Paloski, a Conservation Biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Paloski says it's rare that the DNR sees turtle injuries that are only minor, which makes it imperative to get in contact with one of their wildlife rehabilitators if a turtle has been hit. Through the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, a community-based monitoring initiative, individuals can report turtle crossings and injuries conveniently online here. 

“People are also sometimes concerned about the turtle laying eggs in their garden or just having a huge snapping turtle in their yard but the good news is, those turtles typically will only stay in that area for 24, at most 48 hours; they’re going to lay their eggs and be gone,” added Paloski. 

Along with not removing turtles from backyards, the DNR advocates for keeping wildlife wild and recommends that if you see a turtle in the road, to carefully move it to a safe location in the direction it was heading.

Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR