Turtles are often the victim of road accidents, they are slow moving animals and during rainy days, can travel distances spanning kilometers. This can unfortunately mean crossing busy roads. The turtle's shell is like a bone with nerve endings attached, so when finding a turtle with a broken shell, always be cautious of causing minimal damage when transporting to a vet. Due to their ability to move long distances, they can show up in places many people do not believe they should be, when this happens, call your local wildlife group who can help you relocate the turtle to a nearby water source.
• If you are concerned about an uninjured turtle in a dangerous area, if it is safe to do so, pick up the turtle and move it so it is no longer in danger. This could be picking it up off from one side of the road, to a body of water on the opposite side.
• Whenever you are handling an injured turtle, always pick it up by the sides of its shell and place in a box, garbage bin, or even a pillowcase. Be aware of their sharp claws.
• NEVER place the injured turtle into a body of water, it is a common misconception that they need to be held in water, but this can lead to exhaustion and eventually they can drown if there is not a solid surface for them to rest on.
• Do not attempt to give the turtle any food or water.
• Take the animal to your nearest vet or contact your local wildlife group.
