Why are more turtles crossing Texas roads?

Forget the chicken — have you ever wondered why the turtle crossed the road?

If you’ve seen more turtles venturing across Texas roadways lately, you’re not alone. As the warm days of spring arrive, these four-legged reptiles start searching for mates. Soon, they’ll be out searching for suitable nesting spots as well.

“Common freshwater turtles typically begin mating between March and July,” said Danielle Walkup, Ph.D., Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute research assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management. “Then, later in the spring and early summer, they’ll start moving and searching for good nesting spots.”

Watch for turtles on roads near waterbodies

Texas is home to about 26 semiaquatic freshwater turtle species, many of which begin emerging from ponds, lakes and streams around May to lay eggs on land.

Each species has its own nesting preferences, but female turtles generally look for elevated areas with moist soil — just far enough from water to keep their nests safe from flooding.

“They’re seeking an area that is elevated to some degree,” said Toby Hibbitts, Ph.D., instructional assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and research scientist with the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. “Many times, a road built across a waterway is the highest point nearby, so females will build their nests right next to the road.”

As one might expect, Hibbitts said this behavior puts turtles at risk. Even those that don’t build their nest near a road may still need to cross one in search of the perfect nesting site.

Walkup said those in rural areas are likelier to see turtles during their travels.

“Although we do often find turtles in the city or urban areas, I would say folks living in more rural or less urbanized areas should be especially cautious when driving during turtle nesting season,” Walkup said.  

How drivers can help turtles to safety without endangering themselves

If you spot a turtle on the road, your safety should always come first. If possible, Walkup encourages drivers to simply slow down and steer around it.

That being said, if you feel compelled to move the turtle to safety, Walkup suggests you:

1. Pull over and park safely.
2. Check for traffic before approaching.
3. Pick up the turtle gently by grasping its shell on either side.
4. Move it across the road in the direction it was heading. Many female turtles return to the same nesting site each year, so it is important not to interfere with their path to a predetermined destination. 

While the most commonly seen turtles in Texas are red-eared sliders or box turtles, Hibbitts warns that you may come across snapping turtles.

“Snapping turtles can be large and slow-moving, and you need to be cautious because they can bite at you in defense,” Hibbitts said.

While it may be tempting to pick up a snapping turtle by its large tail, Hibbitts said it is too fragile to hold the animal’s full weight and doing so can injure the turtle.

“If I’m moving one, I usually pick it up partially off the ground with the tail, then place my hand on the underside of the shell and hold a back leg,” he said. “They do have long necks, so you want to try to avoid the front half of a snapping turtle.”

Alternatively, placing a car mat underneath a turtle allows drivers to slide the animal across the road with minimal physical contact.

Ultimately, drivers can help safeguard the next generation of turtles by taking a cue from these notoriously unhurried reptiles — take a moment to slow down. By simply reducing driving speed or taking a moment of your day to give these creatures a helping hand, Texans and turtles can complete their respective journeys safely.