I had quite a surprise as I biked to work this morning – a snapping turtle mom laying eggs by the side of the road. I bike by Horseshoe Pond in Concord on my commute, and in June and July I always scan the road for turtles. Usually I see painted turtles; this is the first time I’ve encountered a snapping turtle in this spot. At this time of year, female turtles are leaving their ponds to find a place to dig a nest and lay eggs. For the turtles that nest near Horseshoe Pond, that can mean crossing Commercial Street, which is a dangerous proposition for a turtle. This snapper mom had the right idea. She didn’t cross the road; instead, she dug her nest on the pond side. I kept a respectful distance from her but couldn’t resist taking a quick photo.
If your commute takes you by a pond or marsh, please keep your eyes open for turtle moms and avoid hitting them. Road mortality is a significant problem for turtles. And if you want to help even more you can assist the turtle across the road in the direction she’s already heading (only if it's safe for you, obviously.) Most turtles, like the painted turtles I encounter regularly, won’t hurt you if you try to help them, and you’re doing them a service by getting them out of the roadway safely. Snapping turtles are harder to assist. They have much less shell for their size than most turtles, which makes them more vulnerable to injury and less tolerant of being approached or picked up. But even if you can’t help a turtle across the road, it only takes a moment to slow down and avoid hitting her.