Caution Turtle Crossing - Holiday Hill Day Camp Mansfield

CAUTION!!!! Watch out in the road for turtles on their way to nesting grounds above high water level. With all the high water this week we are bound to see some turtles moving to ground they have not explored in some time. They look for well drained shandy or gravel soil to dig their pit nest in. They bury those eggs so that mother nature can keep them warm and dry until they hatch and the little ones instinctively head for water. Snapping Turtles, Painted Turtles and more are on a journey this time of year.

                                                                        
This video highlights some important safety considerations!) Snapping Turtles can bite. They could break your bones and cause serious flesh damage! You will know it is a Snapper by the prehistoric look to the rough shell, the size big to extra huge, and the quick spinning reflex to snap out at you.

2.) When moving out of a lane of traffic here is the first things to consider:
     Park your car off the shoulder
     Use your emergency flashers
     Watch out for oncoming traffic in all directions
     Move the turtle in the direction it was headed
          they will just go back if you don't they are going to or from nesting

3.) wash hands after handling turtles and before eating

4.) Some turtles like the painted turtle are rare please do not remove from their habitat

5. I wonder how many turtles will come up out of the bog and come to camp?

                                                                        
Want to learn more about turtles in Connecticut? You should because they are your neighbors!
www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2723&Q=325976  Here you can learn about Connecticut's Rare Bog Turtle!

Learn about Snapping Turtles and see a picture here:  www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/sturtle.html

                                                   Not just with bikes TURTLES TOO!