Note: This post is somewhat graphic. Quit reading if you are grossed out by stuff on the side of the road.

I live in a rural area that has a high population of various wilderness creatures. As our area is one of the fastest growing counties in New York, we also have an increasing number of automobiles. I’ve never given a lot of thought to roadkill before, since it’s a fairly unsettling topic, but I noticed something today: people stop to help turtles cross the road.

Now, this may not be news to you, and in fact, it isn’t to me either, since I’ve seen it plenty of times before, but this “turtle movin’” is a fairly interesting phenomenon. People will literally risk life (cars) and limb (snapping turtles) to rescue these creatures from other motorists. I nearly tapped a guy with my front bumper earlier today, simply because he was hunched over in the road, picking up a turtle in a 55mph zone.

My mother has already managed to turn two squirrels into road patties this week. Diana and I prematurely ended the life of a possum while we traveled to the Southern Tier last week. Never have any of us hit a turtle.

Why do people move these creatures? If we believe the best about people, it’s because they care for the welfare of the little animals, and realize that they are so slow that they don’t even have a chance. However, reality is that in our sinfulness, humanity doesn’t even adequately care about one another, let alone another species.

Perhaps the real reason people move turtles is because they crunch; a good thing in a candy bar, but not as much on the road.

Keep alert out there! It’s turtle season!

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