Time to Watch for Turtles Crossing Roads

It’s that time of year again when turtles are on the move in Wisconsin, often crossing roads to get to nesting sites or other habitat areas. While many drivers take care to avoid hitting these slow-moving creatures, a disturbing study from Clemson University suggests some drivers may actually be targeting turtles deliberately.

In the study, a 22-year-old student placed a realistic rubber turtle in the road and watched as seven drivers swerved to run over it in the span of just one hour. The student, Nathan Weaver, told the Associated Press he was shocked by the behavior, though he had heard anecdotal accounts before of people running over turtles.

The issue is no laughing matter, as reptile populations are in decline globally, with road mortality being a key factor in many areas. “Reptiles are declining globally, and one of the main reasons they are declining in this country is because of road mortality,” said Rob Baldwin, associate professor of conservation biology at Clemson, in the AP interview.

Weaver’s ultimate goal is to find ways to help turtles safely cross roads, with ideas ranging from small wildlife underpasses to educational campaigns aimed at young drivers. In the meantime, Wisconsin residents should be on the lookout for turtles on the road this time of year and do what they can to avoid hitting these vulnerable creatures. Intentionally swerving to run over turtles is not only cruel but against the law.

If you encounter a turtle trying to cross the road and can safely do so, consider moving it across in the direction it was headed. Even a small act of compassion can go a long way in protecting Wisconsin’s turtles.

References

Some Drivers Deliberately Run Over Turtles, Study Shows – https://reptilesmagazine.com/some-drivers-deliberately-run-over-turtles-study-shows
This College Student’s ‘Turtle Project’ Proves Humans Are Jerks – https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/12/college-students-turtle-project-proves-humans-are-jerks

Derrick Mayoleth

For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.