Biologists: egg-laying turtles vulnerable on roadways

Jun 10, 2010 12:00 am

Think of “turtle” and most people think “slow.”

So for these ancient reptiles, trying to cross a highway — such as Route 5 below Songo Pond in Albany — can be deadly.

This time of year the females of many local turtle species are leaving their ponds and rivers in search of a warm, sandy spot to lay their eggs.

To find the right spot, many are forced to cross highways. That is the case for the turtles of Songo Pond and the Crooked River, which begins at the pond.

During the last week in May, about a tenth of a mile south of Songo, one observer traveling the road observed a half dozen of the reptiles trying to cross Route 5.

Several were snapping turtles. One was a painted turtle, the most commonly observed species in area ponds. But there was also a wood turtle, which is spotted much less frequently.

In some cases, the females will dig a hole and lay their eggs in the sandy shoulder of the road.

But whatever the turtles’ plans, state wildlife biologists hope motorists will slow down and keep an eye out during the egg-laying season.

The season typically extends from late May to early July, according to wildlife biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

And in the words of a recent IFW press release, “there is probably no group of organisms in Maine for which roads represent a more serious threat to long-term population viability than turtles.”

Any area near a pond or river may see turtle traffic. In her Gilead column in this week’s Citizen, Lin Chapman notes that someone observed a dead snapping turtle along Route 2 in Bethel, near the cloverleaf overpass.

Nearby, Mill Brook flows into the Androscoggin River.

IFW said if drivers come across a live turtle on the road and want to help, “state biologists advise pulling over and moving the turtle to the side of the road it was headed, if it is safe to do so.”

IFW biologist Jonathan Mays said concerned citizens have sometimes attempted to create and maintain sandy nesting sites in safe locations near where turtles leave the water, “with mixed results.”

“Folks have had some success creating artificial nesting habitat that turtles actually use,” he said. “However, there are also numerous examples of turtles passing close by, seemingly sufficient nesting grounds only to travel great distances and wander across multiple roads.”

Observations needed

For anyone interested in helping biologists map the travels of turtles (or any other wildlife crossing our roads), an online informational and reporting website has been created at www.wildlifecrossing.net/maine.

Comments

AirForce1.Nike Dunk Low. In contour design, emphasis rough, bold, intrepid style; In the performance, bradyseism ability and the protective value are splendid, but is quite heavy, suits the inside connection player, particularly the style of playing was just fierce the strong player use.Nike dunk shoes! This series manages a household the star player and the athletic shoes is Suns's Studd Meyer, as well as he speaks on another's behalf AirStat series. MBT Sandals! What the second introduction was in 1989 is born the Flight series, Flight, this English meaning was " The flight, speeds along " The word, has become " in the athletic shoes domain; Facile, rapid, keen " The synonym, but in China, the general shoes confuses translates into it " Wind " , the appropriate image is rich in the mystical color. MBT Sandals! The Flight series's athletic shoes are design for the outwire contestant, mostly has the dexterous vanguard's outward appearance, in the performance, FLIGHT will place the acceleration, will change with emphasis to, bounces and so on aspects, utilizes ZoomAir this kind of paroxysmal air cushion, may the guarantee player's maneuvering force maximum limit not lose.cheap MBT footwear! AirJordan being in fashion has led the shoe the time which guard shoes monopolize, may say that this promoted the Flight development to a great extent, from promotes the date to be unfailing until now.Nike Dunk Heels. Representative Flight series most classical is the AirFlightposite series, they have with entire Flight are the same Chinese name: Wind. MBT Womens Shoes! This series manages a household the star player and the athletic shoes is Carter and his Shox C series. Finally said the UPTEMPO series, in the 1990s, when " Wind and thunder " The struggle is even more confusing, is situated between the two, an applicable scope more widespread brand-new series: UPTEMPO was born. Its appearance may say that to a great extent changed the people to athletic shoes' traditional thought that in the field position boundary started becomes slurred. cheap mbt shoes! This series present speaks on another's behalf the star player is the Laker kopeck. Since today spoke of the Flight series, actually the Flight series's strongest recent work should be recently Nike is the alliance top shooting guards makes, speaks on another's behalf ZoomBBAF by Nash. Women Nike Blazer SB Low.The initial Flight series bounces ultra strong " merely for these; Flier " The development, the ball control guard is also the Flight series service player, in fact the true top ball control guard basketball shoe is fastidious pastes and the protection, takes in the field the manipulator, the ball control guard to the speed and the judgment request is highest.MBT shoes sale!