Help! This Turtle Doesn't Belong Here
There are many reasons why turtles can end up in unexpected places. We will describe common situations that occur during the active season for turtles in New Hampshire (April through September).
Call or text New Hampshire Turtle Rescue at(603) 417-4944if you are unsure what to do in a particular situation.
NH Fish and Game monitors turtle populations throughout the state. Each year we send reports of all the turtles admitted to our clinic with location data to NH Fish and Game. This helps the turtle biologists at NHFG and contributes to scientific research for the benefit of conservation of natural resources and wildlife. You can do the same by providing NH Fish and Game with reports of turtles you find in the wild. The more we understand where turtles are, the better we can protect them. Read more about theReptile and Amphibian Reporting Program on the NHFG site, or access theform to report sightings here.
I Found a Turtle On the Road
During the nesting season from May through July nesting females will travel long distances in search of a suitable nesting habitat. If you do find a turtle in the road, you can save their life by placing them on the side of the road in the direction they were already headed. Please note that they will turn right back around if you place them on the opposite side, even if you think it's where they should go. Turtles have been around millions of years and know where they are going, even if sometimes human habitat encroaches and makes it dangerous for them. The best way to help is to get them to the side of the road so they are out of danger from cars.
For when you come across a snapping turtle, check outour resource on how to help snapping turtles cross the road to learn how to help these majestic prehistoric beings. If it is not a situation where there is immediate danger, it can be easier to encourage snapping turtles to cross then to have to move them. For all other species, we havethis resource on how to help turtles cross the road, since other species do not require as careful of handling since they do not have the same defense mechanisms as the snapping turtle.
I Found a Turtle Away From Water
During the nesting season from May to July turtles will travel long distances to find nesting habitat. It is likely they have used that spot year after year undetected, or sometimes a nesting spot becomes unavailable and they have to travel even further to find a new nesting spot. There is a lot that goes into detecting a suitable nesting spot, so while it may not seem ideal to us at times, there is a reason that turtle picked that area.
The most important thing is to leave them be, so that they do not end up having to travel further, risking their lives traversing roads and backyards with pets. It's hard out there for turtles! Therefore, if a turtle is in your yard, you can make a huge difference by giving them space for 24 hours, and they will be gone for the entire year. Check outour resource for more information on what to do if a turtle chooses your yard to nest in.
If the turtle is on the side of the road or in a dangerous location, you can get creative. Placing safety cones or other large objects around them can protect them from cars.
I Found a Turtle In My Yard
The most common reason for finding a turtle in your yard is due to nesting. The nesting season is from May through July. However, there are times when turtles will wander into your yard and may find a spot to hide and take a rest amidst their journey. This is more likely to happen if you live near a wetlands, as turtles will sometimes traverse land to make their way to another wetlands. So you may just be a pit stop on their way to their new digs. The best thing to do is give them space, they will be gone within 24 hours. If you are concerned they have not moved on yet, call or text us at(603) 417-4944for advice.
I Found a Baby Turtle
Baby turtles (called hatchlings) will make their way from the nest in the Fall and Spring time. They do not receive parental care, so they are born with amazing instincts guiding them towards the wetlands where their mom came from. Sometimes you may catch a glimpse of one traversing between wetlands if they have to, but hatchlings don't commonly travel on land if avoidable, so it is much more common to see them in the Spring or Fall. Painted turtles are known to commonly overwinter in the nest, so they are likely to emerge in the Spring. However all other species are likely to emerge in the late Summer/early Fall time.
If you live right next to a marsh habitat, taking them close to the water can help them out. However, avoid this unless you are within a very close proximity, since we have 7 species of turtles in New Hampshire, all with unique habitat requirements, and you can end up doing more damage if you place them in the wrong location, making their journey way longer. If are unsure about the situation, we are more than happy to help - call/text us at(603) 417-4944; we use GIS software so if we know the species we can help you find the closest appropriate habitat. Otherwise, leaving them be to complete their journey is also more than okay. See the Turtle Rescue League'sTurtle Hatchlings – Not Always Cute and Probably Not Dying blog post for more great context.
Whatever you do, please do not ever consider keeping the turtle. There are so many reasons that is devastating to the turtle and the ecosystem. After they've been kept in captivity they are likely to never be releasable as well, and most species will outlive you, so you don't want that either. Seeour resource on why it's so important to keep wild turtles in the wild.
