Help a turtle cross the road. We’ll show you how.
May 21, 2015
By Joanna Fitzgerald, director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital
75 animals admitted last week
A Florida softshell turtle and a scarlet king snake were among the 75 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida last week. Other admissions include an Eastern bluebird, a killdeer, two gopher tortoises and two grey squirrels.
Softshell injured while crossing the road
The staff at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital received a call from a motorist on Golden Gate Parkway reporting a large turtle attempting to cross the road. The caller did not stop, but hoped we could go rescue the turtle.
Typically, staff is too busy in the hospital caring for patients, but it was early afternoon and we were about finished with our morning medical treatments so we were able to respond. However, we didn’t have much hope that we would get to the turtle in time simply because roads are so treacherous for turtles.
By the time we got on scene, the turtle had been hit; although injured and bleeding, it was walking south toward the parking lot at the Gordon River Greenway. [Map Below]
Click here to open
the map
Several pedestrians had stopped and were observing the turtle; one person was actually on the phone calling the Conservancy for help. We quickly covered the turtle in a towel, placed it in a transport box and returned to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital.
Although the turtle’s shell was fractured along the middle part of its carapace and had road rash on its plastron, it was alert and active. Staff administered antibiotics and pain medication and placed the turtle in the reptile room at the hospital for further observation.
How to help
If you encounter a turtle attempting to cross the road, please do the following:
Safely pull over and offer assistance, if possible.
If the turtle is uninjured:
Place it out of danger in the direction it was headed.
If the turtle is injured:
Please bring it to the wildlife hospital for immediate medical assistance.
When picking up a turtle:
Cover its head and body with a towel or T-shirt.
The turtle will not like the feel of the towel touching its body so it will be more likely to pull its head and legs.
Never put a turtle directly in a lake or pond, instead place it near the side of a lake or pond.
Mis-identification of turtle species is very common and if a land turtle is put in the water it may drown.
If you spot a snapping turtle…
Call the staff at the wildlife hospital for guidance if you have any questions.
Von Arx Wildlife Hospital: 239.262.CARE
Otter injured in same area
The staff received a call later in the week from the exact same area on Golden Gate Parkway.
This time, a river otter had been hit as it attempted to cross the road. The sherriff’s office called and agreed to wait until staff could arrive.
Otters are dangerous to handle without proper protective equipment so wildlife staff was dispatched to the scene. By the time wildlife staff arrived, the otter had managed to get into the bushes along the sidewalk.
Although it looked like the otter had an injured back leg, it was still mobile and managed to get through a break in the fence and evaded capture.
Please, slow down when driving, especially in areas where wildlife is abundant. Reducing your speed may give an animal the few extra seconds it needs to avoid being hit by a car.
King snake rehabbed, released
The scarlet king snake was found wrapped around the basket filter of a swimming pool. The homeowner thought the snake looked uninjured but brought it in for evaluation just to be safe.
The snake became very active and defensive when staff performed a physical exam. It was determined to be in good health so the homeowner willingly returned it to his property for release.
We were incredibly grateful the homeowner understood the value of snakes to the environment and was willing to offer assistance.
Recent releases — 18 animals go home
- 1 Louisiana waterthrush
- 1 Florida softshell turtle
- 2 opossums
- 2 gopher tortoises
- 6 eastern cottontails
- 1 mourning dove
- 1 ruby-throated hummingbird
- 2 blue jays
- 2 downy woodpeckers
Rewarding release
One release was particularly rewarding. In January, a black vulture (the bird on the left) was admitted with a fractured wing after it was found on US-41 in Big Cypress National Preserve.
The case was difficult to manage for a multitude of reasons. Bbut after five months, the vulture fully recovered and was released back in Big Cypress.
Right after releasing the animal, two other black vultures came to join him. And after a few minutes, they all flew off together!
Get involved
Please visit our website at www.conservancy.org and learn about the many opportunities there are to get involved.
Volunteers are vital in our efforts to assist native wildlife.
If you are unable to give of your time as a volunteer, become a member ordonate.
However you choose to become involved, your support will help the Conservancy continue to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.
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