Turtles are slow moving yet deliberate animals that are attached to their home territories
Turtles will repeat their movements year after year, and most will hardly change their course over their lifetimes. There are some turtles known to hibernate within 1m of where they hibernated the previous year; females are loyal to nest areas; and studies have found that often cross roads within 50m of where they do each year.
Turtles often move between wetland areas where roads intersect these habitats, and they also move according to the weather and the season, feeling more comfortable when it is raining and mid-line temperatures.
Understanding these patterns will help you keep them safe, protect their habitats, and also look out for them on roads.
Typical patterns in eastern North America for freshwater turtles that are encountered often are:
- March to April: basking in their hibernation wetlands to warm up and digest lactic acid build up over the winter
- End of April to mid May: migration to summer grounds (both males and females may be crossing roads)
- Mid May to July: nesting season for many turtles who may be at the sides of the roads where the substrate and area is ideal in the minds of momma-turtle.
- July to August: freshwater turtles that you typically encounter are in summer areas, to feed and stay cool, which usually means larger bodies of water.
- End of August to October: hatch out for some species and their first migration to hibernation sites. Migration of adults to annual hibernation sites.
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