by Jungle Bob
As a wildlife educator who has done a fair share of rescuing animals over the years, I get a wide variety of calls from friends and neighbors in what are perceived as “emergency” situations.
A fledgling bird loose on the ground conjures a parental instinct in most people to “help it” as its inability to fly makes it look quite vulnerable. Reality is, most birds make their first leap from the nest and crash land quickly, a right of passage before they master the art of flight.
In late spring my phone rings on a daily basis for another perceived “helpless” animal: the turtle.
Long Island is home to many different species of turtles, but none gets more wide-eyed gapes when spotted than the common snapping turtle.
Snappers are not rare, in fact almost every fresh water pond and lake has snapping turtles in it, they are just seldom seen, spending most of their time under the water, their black shells a perfect camouflage.
These reptiles can reach enormous sizes of up to 75 pounds and are often spotted crossing roads on their annual journey to lay eggs. They leave their watery dens in seeking a soft patch of earth with ample sunshine to hatch their babies properly. Unfortunately, this often means crossing a roadway where they stop traffic and seem “lost”.
Snappers have an ornery disposition when encountered. Good Samaritans are often rewarded with a startling snap of their heads, which can crane backwards over their shell and if picked up incorrectly will literally bite the hand that helps them. If you still feel compelled to help, make sure you grasp the animals shell near the hind legs and move her in the direction she was going.
You see, their journey is the result of 100 plus million years of maternal instinct and if placed back from whence they came, they will inevitably march back cross that road.
Probably the best advice is to admire the spectacle and their determination and just leave them be. They WILL cross that road, as the power of a mother’s love simply cannot be denied!
• Jungle Bob- Jungle Bob’s Reptile World, Centereach
631-737-6474 junglebobsreptileworld.com