Local turtles need a ‘brake’ this World Turtle Day

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It’s turtle time in Southern New England!

May and June are when native turtles head to their nesting sites which can prove to be downright dangerous.

In 2024, 44 turtles were reported to have been hit by cars during their annual nesting event.

As each turtle is critical to the local ecosystem and many are endangered or threatened, it is important the we give them a brake.

The Audubon Society of RI has started a sign program so we can all help save the turtles.

If you happen to live in an area where you have seen turtles crossing the street or border on wetlands, you can get a yard sign from the Audubon Society to put up and hopefully get traffic to slow for the nesting season.

Lauren Gordon, the Director of the Audubon Nature Center in Bristol, Rhode Island notes you can also help then cross the street.

If it safe to pull over, approach the turtle from behind so you don’t scare it, pick up the turtle with both hands and carry it across the street in the direction it is heading.

Other than cars, the other main threat to native turtles is development.

The turtle will lay their eggs in the same location year after year and due to development, open wild areas that were one year nesting grounds may be a residential yard or industrial space now.

As a result, you may find clutches of eggs in strange places. It is advised that you just leave it alone.

If you are concerned they may be at risk from your pets, you could erect a cone at the site for the summer until they hatch in September.

There is so much to learn about our fascinating reptile friends and the Audubon Society is making the most of World Turtle Day on Friday May 23.

They have 4 local species of turtles you can meet up close and learn all about these charming creatures.

Here you can learn why they’re so important to our ecosystem and why it’s so important to help them out now so that come September, the hatching baby turtles can make the trip back across the road.

If you happen to get a sign now, you can use it again then to help the next generation of local turtles get back safely to the wetlands.

For more information about the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, visit their website here.