A snapping turtle crossing Old Norwalk road last week was helped along its way by New Canaan police alerted to the reptile’s slow progress across the busy street, officials say.
The turtle was spotted at about 6:10 p.m. on June 9 (a Monday), in the area of 290 Old Norwalk Road, according to a police report.
A common snapping turtle. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Now’s the time when the turtles are coming out of the water to lay their eggs—the animals’ nesting season in this area is late May through June, according to Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt.
“If you come across one and see where he’s moving, you don’t turn him the other way because he’ll just turn around again,” she said. “The turtle is either coming from laying its eggs or going out to dry land to lay, so don’t put it back in the water before it’s ready. Make sure it’s headed in the direction it wants to go.”
Common snapping turtles live to be about 40 years or older. They shouldn’t be handled by humans, officials say, and if they appear in a yard, children and pets should keep respectful distances.
By state law, turtles in Connecticut can be trapped and “harvested” (killed) from July 15 to Sept. 30. Their eggs and nests are off-limits.