PAHERP Forum » Herp Talk

1. 

   derjjm
   Member

   I was on a very busy highway this morning and I noticed a small blob near the fog line of my lane. As I got closer, I saw it was a turtle of some kind as I whizzed past.

   I went up the road about a tenth of a mile and turned around before too much traffic came along and sped back to the turtle. By then it was in the right tire track of the lane and traffic was coming.

   I turned onto the opposite shoulder and parked close to the white line and turned my flashers on.

   I got out of my pick-up and walked back to the turtle before traffic got too close and picked him up.

   After I got home I looked it up on your website, and I find it is a Eastern Painted.

   I plan to release it later this afternoon.

   Before I hear about letting nature take its course, and that I should have let the turtle chance the highway and possibly thin out the gene pool...

   I like turtles, it wasnt some speedy critter which could cross a busy highway in seconds. It was a turtle. And I did what I did. Live with it. He/She will.

   Period.

   Posted 11 months ago #
2. 

   krloucks
   Moderator

   Getting hit by a car is not "Nature running it's course". Best thing for the turtle is to put it on the side to which it was crossing. May have been laying eggs or returning to it's pond.

   Posted 11 months ago #
3. 

   derjjm
   Member

   The turtle has been released.

   I live along the same highway that the turtle was crossing, not more than 1/3 mile. Had that turtle continued across the highway, it would have been getting farther away from water. There are no ponds or creeks on that side of the road that I know of... unless you want the turtle to walk miles. If it is about to lay eggs, the off spring would have had a tough time getting to water, having to cross the roadway again.

   Anyway, it was released along a stream. It dove right in, then swam downstream after about 10 minutes and settled in along the bank, along side a sandbar or gravel.

   I enjoyed the experience. The last time I had contact with a turtle in the neighborhood, it was a box turtle. I always wanted to see a Eastern Painted Turtle up close. Now I have. It was about 8 inches long and about 5 inches wide at the hind. There was no hinge on the yellow belly. A sorta pretty looking reptile. ( I didnt use proper terms because I dont have any of the Alphabet behind my name.)

   thanks,
   j

   Posted 11 months ago #
4. 

   krloucks
   Moderator

   Thanks J, In what county are you?

   Posted 11 months ago #
5. 

   derjjm
   Member

   I live in northwestern part of Northampton County. A old section. Sometimes I get into trouble here at home for bringing the local critters in the house for a couple of days. The turtle in a 3 gallon crock wasnt too bad for a couple of hours, but she doesnt like Snakes in the Aquarium or Catfish in the bathtub. I guess she doenst have the same ' wonder ' I do, or the sense of humor.

   Local history states that William Penn himself used to come to my little village. Ben Franklin also. It was the place to be I suppose. But time has passed this little burb by... but rumor has it that we may be getting a Traffic light down at the intersection in years to come.

   Posted 11 months ago #

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