This snapper was a tad confused -- we found her meandering through a parking lot in Huntsville while collecting Taffy from the vet (us, not the turtle... turtles rarely collect dogs from vets or anywhere else)
I was able to gently steer her back into the tall cool grass and on down to the creek below. She was in search of somewhere soft where she could dig a nest and lay her eggs.
At this time of year, turtles, seeking soft gravel, are a common sight along the shoulders of the roads. Please slow down, give them a chance. They aren't the fastest creatures, so you cannot use the excuse that works with deer -- "it just leapt out in front of me, officer..." There's plenty of opportunity to see them early, and steer around them.
They are endangered -- mainly because of the automobile. And they are time machines. Forget the TARDIS on Dr. Who, these animals really are a look in a distant past, remaining essentially unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs.
You have to respect that. So...
Brake for Turtles, and Give Turtles a Break.
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