Snapping Turtle
This adult snapping turtle is suffering from a fractured shell after being hit by a car when trying to cross a busy road. She was probably either on her way to lay eggs or on her way back from the nest. During the months of June and July, many native turtles are active and often find themselves in the paths of humans. They are actively seeking mates as well as nesting sites to lay their eggs.
The white spot you see on her shell is an antibiotic cream to help reduce infection at the injury site. Reptiles have a very slow metabolism, therefore, their wounds heal very slowly. This turtle’s wounds are not too severe and the vet anticipates her release by early July.
If you happen to come across a turtle in the road and want to help, carefully move the turtle IN THE DIRECTION it is going! Even if the direction it is going doesn’t look appealing to you, it does to the turtle! Something on that side of the road is attracting the turtle. Maybe a previous nesting site, a water source, maybe even a mate! Use extra caution with snapping turtles like this one…they can extend their necks quite far and give a nasty bite! Use a shovel or something similar to move snapping turtles!
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