Spring in Rhode Island signals blooming flowers, warmer days, and turtles on the move. Each year, as temperatures rise, local species like the eastern painted turtle and American snapping turtle emerge from wetlands in search of nesting sites. That journey often takes them across roads, where they risk deadly encounters with traffic.
“Drivers need to slow down near ponds, rivers, and wetlands during spring,” urges the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. “It’s a critical time for turtle movement.”
The Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island treated 44 turtles last year after cars struck them – a number that local residents can help reduce. Nesting season puts turtles at particular risk, especially species like the eastern painted turtle, snapping turtle, eastern box turtle, and wood turtle. And the danger doesn’t end with nesting. Hatchlings begin their own treks in late summer, usually in August and September.
Want to help a turtle cross the road safely? Pull over, check for traffic, and lift the turtle gently with both hands, placing one hand on each side of its shell. “Never pick up a turtle by its tail or by the top of its shell,” warns the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife.
If you come across a snapping turtle, guide it from a safe distance using a stick or broom. If you’re unsure or feel unsafe, contact local wildlife authorities for help. To support turtle safety beyond the roadside, Audubon offers free turtle crossing signs to residents near ponds and wetlands. Visit asri.org to request one.
To meet Rhode Island’s native turtles up close, stop by the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol on May 23 for Turtle Time: A Family Celebration of World Turtle Day. From 6:30-8:00pm, guests of all ages can interact with live turtles, learn about their habits, and snap a few “shell-fies.” Find details and registration at asri.org.
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