DUPAGE Co. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The DuPage Forest Preserve District is reminding drivers to watch for turtles on the roads as these reptiles become more active in the spring.
According to the forest preserve district, from April through October, turtles cross roads in search of water, food, mates, or nests; and female crossings increase in particular from mid-May to mid-July as the turtles make their way to and from nesting sites.
“For their eggs to survive, turtles must find just the right spot for their nests,” said District ecologist Dan Thompson. “Some turtles must travel up to a mile to find the right conditions,” so adult females looking for nesting sites can cross roads a good distance from bodies of water.
Despite their hard shells, turtles cannot protect themselves from vehicles they encounter on the way. The loss of one adult turtle can be significant because at least 90 percent of adults must survive each year to sustain a population. If the rate drops below this number the population will be in decline, the DuPage Forest Preserve District said in a statement.
“Turtles are not able to move quickly to avoid a car, so it’s up to drivers to avoid hitting them,” Thompson said. “Car horns and flashing lights will have no effect on turtles; they simply can’t move any faster to get out of the way. Drivers need to pay attention and do what they can to avoid hitting these animals.”
Motorists can avoid turtles simply by following the rules of the road:
• Focus on driving, don’t speed or tailgate, and stay off your phone.
• Leave plenty of room between cars so turtles can be seen.
But the forest preserve district said drivers should never place themselves or others in danger by stopping abruptly on busy roads.
DuPage County is home to a variety of native turtle species, including musk, snapping, eastern spiny softshell, common map, painted and the state-endangered Blanding’s.
Roads near lakes, ponds, and marshes can be turtle-crossing hotspots, so it helps to be particularly vigilant while driving in these areas.
Anyone who finds an injured turtle should consult the Forest Preserve District’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Located at 525 S. Park Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, the center cares for injured native wildlife in DuPage County and strives to return them to the wild. Willowbrook accepts wildlife patients 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, but people should first call 630-942-6200 to arrange for no-contact curbside drop-offs.
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