On early summer mornings, all around Rye, ordinarily elusive and water-dwelling turtles have been spotted crawling through grass, crossing roads, and even poking about in backyards.
“Seeing the turtles bumbling along far from the pond elicits a natural reaction,” said Jamie Jensen, Rye City Council member and regular Rye Town Park-goer. It’s an up-close encounter with nature that surprises, feels special, and can stop people in their tracks.
Well-meaning humans, thinking the turtle is lost, may feel compelled to return it to its watery home. But odds are, a turtle seen on land is female and on a very important mission.
“A turtle on the road in the morning is most likely on their way to dig and lay their eggs,” said Matt Hybell of The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation and habitat preservation.
“The best thing to do is leave it alone,” said Henry Myers, associate director of forest education at Rye Nature Center. If not, it will be forced to begin its nesting sojourn all over again.
“Many of the turtle species are in decline,” Myers said. “They are slow to reproduce so losing just one reproductive female can have a big impact. Protecting turtles helps to preserve the ecosystem.”
Egg-laying season for Rye’s turtles peaks in June and continues through August. Females begin their journey heavy with upward of a dozen eggs ranging in size from a penny to a ping pong ball. They travel anywhere from a few yards to more than a mile from their habitats to find suitable nesting sites.
To accomplish this laborious task, according to Barbara Daddario of the turtle and tortoise society, the reptiles rely on a sort of inner compass. “Usually the turtle will go where it’s gone before (to lay eggs). They’re very much creatures of habit,” she said.
“They like sandy, well-drained soil, usually in open areas,” said Myers. These can range from Rye’s fields to backyards and even construction sites. “We saw a snapping turtle laying eggs in our parking lot at the Nature Center,” he said.
The Center’s conservation team lost no time blocking off the area to protect the eggs.
A turtle is fastidious when deciding on a nesting spot. “Sometimes they’ll dig holes and they don’t use them,” said Daddario. “They’re just not satisfied with the quality of the earth so they’ll move on to another hole.”
Once the perfect place is chosen, the turtle lays her eggs and gently pushes them deeper into the soil with her hind feet. Lastly, she covers the clutch of eggs and camouflages the hole with leaves or grass to deter predators like racoons and crows.
“By late afternoon, early evening, their arduous task is done, and they are returning to their pond or stream,” said Hybel.
Bonus if you spot a female turtle in process. “Watching a snapping turtle lay eggs is like stepping back in time, all the way to the cretaceous period,” said Myers. These armored creatures were here even before T-Rex and woolly mammoths roamed the earth.
The eggs, warmed by the sun in their underground nest, incubate for up to 120 days, depending on the species. Once the hatchlings emerge, they instinctively dig their way out and head toward home.
For both mothers and babies, this portion of their lifecycle is perilous. Females are vulnerable when traveling to and from nesting sites, particularly because of cars. Hatchlings also risk being run over by cars or eaten by predators.
Rye is home to a variety of turtle species. Painted and snapping turtles, which are primarily aquatic, inhabit the ponds, lakes, and streams in this area. The painted turtle is New York’s most common species. Its smooth, dark shell usually measures between five and seven inches and has a red border. Yellow and red stripes mark its legs, neck, face, and head. Painted turtles are often seen basking on rocks or stumps in marshes, ponds, and lakes and disappear into the water quickly when disturbed.,
The snapping turtle, twice the size of its painted cousin, is New York’s largest freshwater turtle. Its dark, 10-to-16-inch shell has a jagged rear edge, and it stands on stocky legs with clawed feet and has a long, saw-toothed tail. Known for its defensive nature, its beak-like jaw and powerful neck muscles enable it to deliver a forceful bite.
The Eastern box turtle, which has a high-domed, dark shell with yellow or orange markings, also makes its home in Rye. Its hinged bottom shell allows it to close up like a box. The box turtle is primarily terrestrial and spends most of its time wandering grassy fields and woods, only retreating to shallow water during hot or dry spells.
Turtles are omnivores, feasting on vegetation, algae, insects, fish and anything dead or rotting that winds up in the water. “They keep the water clean and the ponds from getting clogged with plants,” said Daddario. “Turtles are the sanitation crew.”
For a few brief summer months, turtles emerge from Rye’s water and woods to enact an age-old ritual intrinsic to the circle of life — a fleeting reminder that we can all do our part to ensure these ancient survivors continue on their important journey for years to come.
How to Help a Turtle Cross the Road
Turtles have been undertaking this egg-laying odyssey for 250 million years without any help from humans. But when people and turtles cross paths, there are steps we can take to protect these shelled creatures.
First and foremost, keep your own safety in mind. Signal properly and watch for oncoming traffic.
Sometimes it’s best just to stand guard as the turtle crosses on its own.
If you feel comfortable picking up a painted or box turtle, use two hands and hold the sides of the shell like a sandwich and carry it across the road in the direction that it’s heading.
Never pick up a snapping turtle with your hands. They can become defensive on land, especially during nesting season. This turtle’s long flexible neck and powerful jaw can reach behind and bite you. Instead, use a stick to coax it across the road or slide a car mat under it and pull it across the road in the direction it was traveling.
Call the local police for assistance if needed.
Consult the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website to find a local wildlife rehabilitator.
More Ways to Help Turtles
If you find a turtle in the park or on your property, leave it alone. It’s likely a female searching out a nesting spot.
Never pick up a turtle by the tail, which could damage its spine and tail bones.
Don’t take turtles from the wild to keep as pets. It’s harmful to the turtle and against the law. New York State prohibits the removal of wild turtles from their natural habitat.
Turtle safety tips courtesy of Rye Nature Center, The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
