Rainfall and warmer temperatures mean turtles are on the move

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Motorists on Fort Leonard Wood may feel like they are dodging more turtles than normal lately, and that is because in spring and early summer, the cold-blooded creatures are on the move, searching for food, mates and nesting spots.

Kenton Lohraff, the Natural Resources Branch chief of the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division, said rainfall influences the daily activity of turtles; “it tends to increase after wet periods.”

They can often be seen sunning themselves on warm pavement, sidewalks and logs, according to Lohraff.

“Turtles, like all reptiles are ectothermic and depend upon the sun and their environment to warm and maintain optimum body temperatures,” he said.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to 11 species of turtles, Lohraff noted, such as the spiny softshell, northern map turtle, western painted turtle and midland smooth softshell — the largest species are the common snapping turtle and the softshells which can grow up to 2-feet wide.

Lohraff said two of his favorite turtle facts are they have no teeth, “but rather hardened beaks,” and all turtles lay eggs on land, even aquatic ones.

“The turtle species we have are primarily aquatic and are usually found in or around ponds and streams, though they breathe air and can travel on land, too,” Lohraff said.

Two species found in the area that are mostly terrestrial, meaning they live on land, are the three-toed box and the plains box.

“The species most often encountered along roadways here is the three-toed box turtle. They can often be seen in spring, summer and fall just about anywhere on Fort Leonard Wood,” Lohraff said.

He said box turtles get their names from their ability to close their shell completely — like a box — they can do this because of their top high rounded dome dorsal carapace and a hinged plastron, the underside of the shell.

“They can completely close-up their head and appendages. That is pretty handy for defense against potential predators,” Lohraff said.

Box turtles may have a great defense from natural predators, but their boxlike shape can’t protect them from the weight of a vehicle. Lohraff said being blessed with shells becomes a curse when the reptiles go up against a machine.

“Turtles have tough shells, so they usually only get partially crushed by vehicles instead of completely smashed instantly,” Lohraff said. “They can recover from small, minor injuries to their shells but usually not from a vehicle.”

Army Civilian Police Officer Lt. Eric Magoon works in the Conservation Law Enforcement Division of Fort Leonard Wood’s Directorate of Emergency Services. He said helping a turtle cross the road is generally “OK” but does come with “risk.”

“The decision to help or not help should be made based on the totality of circumstances. There are lots of possible risk factors in helping, such as level of vehicular traffic, knowledge of turtle species or ability to safely handle turtles. Do not put yourself or others at risk to move a turtle,” Magoon said.

If someone wants to help a turtle cross the road, they should first consider their personal safety, Magoon added.

“Only pull over off the road if it is safe to do so; do not block the flow of traffic to help a turtle,” he stressed. “Turn on your hazard lights to warn any potential oncoming traffic. Remain aware of any hazards or changes in traffic levels. When it is safe to approach and grab the turtle, pick up the turtle firmly with both hands across the middle of its body. Do not pick a turtle up by the tail. Some turtles can reach back along their shell so grabbing them in the middle may not be possible; in these cases, you can use a stick or broom to encourage the turtle to cross the road. Always move the turtle across the road in the direction it was headed; do not attempt to relocate the turtle to a new area.”

It can be tempting to want to take a turtle home as a pet, but long-term captivity is not good for the turtle, and according to Magoon, it is not allowed on post.

“It is against Fort Leonard Wood policy to house or board reptiles in housing. It is illegal to transport turtles across state lines without proper permitting — and, in general, a bad idea. Wild turtles do not do well in captivity and often end up dead within the first year. It would be best for both people and turtles to leave them in the wild and enjoy them in their natural habitat,” Magoon said.

The Missouri Department of Conservation website has a lot of information and resources available for those looking to learn more about turtles in the area, Magoon said.

According to Lohraff, turtles are incredibly diverse, interesting and essential components of healthy, functioning ecosystems and play active roles as scavengers, nutrient recyclers, predators and prey.

“They are a unique part of our natural heritage, and learning about them and encouraging their conservation in our modern, changing, natural world requires the help of all of us,” Lohraff said.

More information on turtles and roads is available via the Department of Defense’s Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.