Commentary: Why did the turtle cross the road (and how you can help)

A few years ago, I was driving along a busy road in my small town when I spotted a giant snapping turtle crossing the road. I turned my hazard lights on, pulled over to the shoulder and stood behind him, gently urging him forward. I didn't know how to handle him, and he kept turning his head around, snapping at me. Thankfully, a passerby saw what was going on and stopped to help. He knew exactly what to do and escorted the turtle safely across. I left, determined to learn for myself how to respond in such situations.

Turtles are on the move this time of year, searching for nesting sites and mates. Drivers are most likely to encounter them where roads cut through natural migration routes, particularly in low-lying areas, near marshes and wetlands or alongside dense vegetation, though they sometimes appear in unexpected places.

And turtles (like all other animals) are worth rooting for. Some spend decades slowly navigating the same areas year after year. Painted turtles bask together on logs like little sunbathers, box turtles can close themselves up tightly inside their shells and snapping turtles, despite their grumpy reputations, aren't usually aggressive toward humans unless provoked. Many species play important roles in keeping wetlands healthy by cleaning up decaying matter and dispersing seeds. Fossil records show that turtles are among the oldest reptile groups on Earth, with surprisingly complex lives just beyond the roadside.

Please slow down, stay alert and if you see a turtle in the road, stop to assist when it's safe. Turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers, pull over and take the turtle to the side of the road they were trying to reach. You can usually lift small turtles with both hands placed on either side of the shell, between the front and back legs.

Use extra caution with larger turtles, especially snapping turtles. Put on gloves if you have them. Never pick a turtle up by the tail, as that could cause serious injury. Instead, use a shovel, a sturdy piece of cardboard or a car mat and gently slide it underneath to pull them across.

Always move turtles in the direction they were heading. They know where they're going, and if you turn them around, they'll often try to cross the road all over again. And never relocate a healthy turtle away from the area where you found them, even if the location seems unsuitable to you.

If you see an injured turtle lying still in the road, don't assume the worst and drive on. Turtles have extremely slow metabolisms. Even after a collision, they can remain alive and suffering for hours, days or even longer. A turtle who seems lifeless may still respond to a light touch near the eye or a gentle pinch of a back foot. If there's any response, seek help right away from a veterinarian, wildlife rehabilitator or local shelter.

Spring and summer bring other wildlife encounters, too. Young birds often leave the nest before they can fully fly and continue learning from the ground while their parents feed and watch over them. Mother rabbits stay away from their nests to avoid attracting predators, and deer often leave fawns hidden while they forage. These animals are usually not abandoned or injured.

Before stepping in, pause and observe from a distance. If the animal does not appear wounded and is in a safe place, the best thing you can do is leave them there. Taking healthy animals from their environment separates families and lowers their chances of survival. If an animal is clearly injured, entangled, trapped or in immediate danger, it's OK to intervene. Wildlife rehabilitators can help you determine the safest and most appropriate action to take.

Many animals pass through our lives unnoticed. Paying attention may not seem like much, but for an animal struggling across hot pavement or lying injured on the shoulder of a road, it can mean everything.

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Melissa Rae Sanger is a licensed veterinary technician and a senior writer for the PETA Foundation, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.PETA.org.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 1:24 AM.