If you spot a turtle crossing the road or digging a nest in your yard, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for your help.

As nesting season continues through June, female turtles are leaving lakes, rivers and wetlands to lay eggs, often in roadside ditches, gardens and residential yards. The DNR says four of Wisconsin's 11 native turtle species are endangered, threatened or experiencing population declines.

If a turtle chooses your property as a nesting site, wildlife officials recommend leaving the nest undisturbed and protecting it with an open-bottom nest cage. The cage helps keep raccoons and other predators away while allowing hatchlings to emerge safely.

Drivers can also help by slowing down near wetlands and watching for turtles crossing roadways. Residents are encouraged to report turtle sightings to the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, helping biologists identify nesting areas and protect turtle populations for future generations.

Photos courtesy of Bryan Mazur, who recently discovered a turtle nest in his front yard.