ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation remind motorists to be careful of turtles crossing roads over the next several weeks as they move to familiar nesting locations.
Allowing turtles to cross the roads is vital to preserving regional populations.
“Many turtles and other species are killed on Minnesota roads each year, especially during the nesting season,” said Carol Hall, DNR herpetologist, “In fact, roadway mortality is believed to be a major factor in turtle population declines throughout the United States.”
Overland journeys usually occur in connection with seasonal movements between different wetland habitats, during the annual early summer nesting migration of egg-laden females or when newly hatched youngsters seek the backwaters and ponds for their permanent home. Turtles can travel many miles during a single year, and may even be found far from water.
