A biologist in Chatham-Kent is asking motorists to be more cautious after some gruesome pictures were posted on Twitter of pregnant turtles that were run over on local roads.
Jason Homewood with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) snapped the photos while he was driving between Chatham and Lighthouse Cove earlier this week.
WARNING: the pictures included in the following link are very graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some viewers. You can see the pictures by clicking here.
Homewood's co-worker, Vicki McKay, who is a species at risk biologist at the LTVCA says the pictures aren't just disturbing because of how graphic they are, but also because every turtle species in Ontario is on an "at risk" list.
"In the course of their entire lifetime of laying eggs, they may only manage to replace themselves," McKay said. "Any extra deaths that we cause, whether it be from hitting them on a road or anything else, is leading to the species' decline."
McKay added female turtles migrate throughout May and June and said almost all turtles crossing roads at this time are pregnant.
The biologist asked motorists to slow down and drive with extra caution, particularly on roads close to bodies of water or wetlands.
"They aren't a fast-moving animal and instead of running when they see a car, they just kind of hide in their shell and hope for the best."
McKay said anyone who wants to stop and help a turtle should only do so if it is safe for them first and foremost. She added if you decide to move a turtle, you should always move it in the direction it is going or else it will just start over again. You should also make sure to handle it with care.
She said smaller turtles can be held under their shell where their back legs are so they can't bite, but she does not suggest touching a snapping turtle.
"Quite often they will turn around, face you and kind of challenge you," said McKay. "The quick and easy thing to do is grab a stick and let them bite onto it. Then you can gently drag them to the other side of the road."