Eastern box turtle Photo by Deborah J. Humphries
Why did the turtle cross the road? Most likely to find a place to lay its eggs or to find a mate. May and June are peak months to see turtles attempting to cross Virginia’s highways and unfortunately, thousands are killed every year in the process. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources would like you to be “turtle aware” and encourage drivers to slow down and safely steer around them. If you do encounter a turtle in the middle of the road and would like to assist, be sure you can safely pull over and move the turtle off the road in the direction it was heading.
To learn more about Virginia’s turtles and their conservation, you can purchase A Guide to the Turtles of Virginia at our eStore.
