It’s already turtle season in many parts of the country, and it will soon be warm enough for turtles to emerge here in the northern Adirondacks of New York. Cyclists are in a prime position to see turtles crossing roads. Unfortunately, not all turtles make it through the gauntlet of motorized traffic. Give them a hand crossing the road, but be safe doing it. Learn how by reading “Help Turtles Cross Roads.”

 
Cyclists aren’t the only folks to discover turtles in danger. Anyone with a sharp eye can rescue them by becoming a turtle taxi. Just ask Bob Angel, who returned to his suburban South Carolina home one recent afternoon to find a group of kind-hearted neighbors trying to figure out how to encourage a snapping turtle out of the street. Someone had the idea of using a shovel to lift the snapper and set him or her on the grass well off the road. As an avid photographer, Bob had his camera at hand and took a portrait of the rescued snapper for the Outside Up North “Turtle Portrait Gallery.”

Photo reprinted with kind permission from Bob Angel

 
Have you saved a turtle from being hit by cars? Do you have a story or pictures to share? Just send us an email and we’ll publish your comments and turtle pictures in our “Turtle Portrait Gallery.”

 
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On a training ride for his 2008 cross country tour along the ACA’s Northern Tier route, Jerry Wick passed a turtle who was crossing the road. Concerned, Jerry turned around to be certain the turtle made it safely across. He took this photo:

Photo reprinted with kind permission from Jerry WIck

 
It’s turtle season already in many parts of the country, and in a month or so will be warm enough for turtles here in the northern Adirondacks of New York. Cyclists are in a prime position to see turtles crossing roads. Unfortunately, not all turtles make it through the gauntlet of motorized traffic. Give them a hand crossing the road, but be safe doing it. Learn how by reading “Help Turtles Cross Roads.”

 
Have you been a turtle taxi and saved a lucky critter from being hit by cars? Do you have a story or pictures to share? Just send us an email and we’ll publish your comments and turtle pictures in our “Turtle Portrait Gallery.”

 
Anyone who’s dreamed of getting on their bike and heading out to the “territories” will enjoy reading Jerry Wick’s and others’ journals at crazyguyonabike, an excellent resource for folks preparing for bike tours, short and long.

Thanks for the helping hand

 
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This weekend, an Outside Up North reader recommended I check out Marc DeLuca’s “Three Spokes and a Mirror: The Story of One Man’s Advance West” bike tour journal at the crazyguyonabike website, in part because the journal was very well written, but also because of this photo Marc took on his tour:

Photo reprinted with kind permission from Marc DeLuca

 
As many of my readers know, I’m fond of turtles, and hate to see them dead or, worse, injured because they weren’t fast enough to get across the road, so I’m always delighted when others give them a helping hand, too. Bicyclists are in a good position to notice turtles in danger, and with care and good luck can often come to their rescue. Even the largest snapping turtles can safely be moved across the road without them or us getting hurt, but you have to know how to pick them up and carry them. With the generous assistance of Kathy Michell, a turtle expert and wildlife rehabilitator at the New York Center for Turtle Rehabilitation and Conservation, Inc., I’ve written an article describing how to safely handle turtles and help them get to where they’re going. Read “Help Turtles Cross Roads” to learn more.

Have you saved a turtle from being hit by cars? Do you have a story or pictures to share? Just send us an email and we’ll publish your comments and turtle portraits.

 
Anyone who’s dreamed of getting on their bike and heading out to the “territories” will enjoy reading Marc’s and others’ journals at crazyguyonabike, an excellent resource for folks preparing for bike tours short and long.