Watch out for turtles: Wisconsin DNR says cars are leading cause of turtle deaths
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wants drivers to watch out for turtles on the road. This time of year, turtles begin to emerge from rivers, lakes, and wetlands to lay eggs.
That means people will see more of them on the road. Many females are run over by vehicles during these annual nesting migrations. That is a leading cause of turtle decline throughout Wisconsin. DNR officials say to drive with caution on roads that are near water.
“… sometimes with roads, those get in the way, or buildings can get in the way, so we have to be really conscious about these turtles because they’re just trying to find a place to lay their eggs,” said Shannon Columb, an Americorps naturalist with WisCorps.
People comfortable helping a turtle cross can carry them to the side of the road they’re trying to reach. Experts people should wash their hands *immediately after — because turtles can carry salmonella.
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