The head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section is warning residents to watch out for snapping turtles crossing the roads now that their nesting season is underway.
A snapping turtle climbing a fence in New Canaan in June 2020. Photo courtesy of the New Canaan Police Department
The season runs in May and June, when females leave their ponds to lay eggs on dry land.
The mother turtles often cross roads or end up in swimming pools during this time, according to Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm.
“They’re on a sort of migrating path that nothing should get in their way,” she said. “They’re just determined to take this direction.”
Animal Control has received a number of calls recently to help guide turtles safely, Halm said. She responded to a call on Silvermine Road this past weekend, where a painted turtle was crossing the busy residential road.
Although many people fear the prehistoric turtle, there are ways to help them, according to Halm.
This snapping turtle turned up July 8, 2017 in Richmond Hill Road with a fishhook caught in its mouth. Police, helped direct traffic around the reptile while Animal Control took it to South Wilton Veterinary, who anesthetized the animal and removed the fishhook. Animal Control then returned the turtle to Mead. Photo published with permission from its owner
Migration patterns are key, she said, so “It’s important for people to know to not turn them around.”
She also said to avoid bringing the turtles into your car and transporting them to the reservoir or another pond site.
Halm said that “people are brave enough to lift them,” but should keep their distance from the face to avoid snapping. Halm said she often uses a flat shovel to carry them across the road.
“They’re just so cool,” she said. People should take the time to care for them because they play a major role in filtering ponds and are in a nesting state, according to Halm.
If added help is needed for a snapping turtle crossing the road, contact the New Canaan Animal Control at (203) 594-3510.
I was speaking with Allyson from Animal Control about potential signage around the town of New Canaan. I think it would be a small, but important, project to have Turtle Crossing signs with QR codes linking to information about how to help and not hinder the female turtle’s in their mating season journey. Also, this could be a small nudge to overhaul our town’s website. Our town website, as of today, is difficult to navigate to find out anything pertaining to animal control.
Thank you, Betsy. Just noting here that the New Canaan Police Department has its own website separate and apart from the town’s, and there’s a page there dedicated to Animal Control with some good information and resources.
Snapping turtles can take off a finger or even a child’s hand—bee very careful. Unlike box turtles who can close their shells, snappers cannot retreat into their shells and have very strong mouths. Their defence is to snap!