As the landscape in Newtown and surrounding towns continues to change, wild animals are being impacted and trying to adapt to their new environment as best they can. This can mean a variety of wildlife are venturing into areas they never have before — backyards, hiking trails, and busy roads — when searching for refuge or nourishment.

Residents are having close encounters so frequently that it is not uncommon for people to share photos of a bear investigating their bird feeder or a bobcat traveling across an unfenced yard. Many, too, are calling agencies to report wild animals injured on the side of the road or accidentally poisoned.

Springtime also means many animals are more visible as they are out and about gathering food for their growing families.

In a perfect world, animals would know the boundaries of what land is preserved for them and what is human-inhabited, but the reality is these creatures are just doing their best to survive.

In this miniseries, The Newtown Bee will consult animal experts to explain how to support these animals safely from afar and what to do if you encounter them face-to-face.

Turtles

Aquatic turtles lived among the dinosaurs, with fossil evidence dating them to have lived as far back as 220 million years ago in the Triassic Period. These ancient reptiles not only survived mass extinction when many other species perished, but they also diversified as they populated.

Today, 20% of the world’s 328 turtle species are found throughout the United States and Canada. Of that percentage, there are a dozen species native in Connecticut, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

These species include bog turtles, common musk turtles, common snapping turtles, eastern box turtles, northern diamondback terrapins, eastern painted turtles, spotted turtles, wood turtles, Atlantic green sea turtles, Atlantic Ridley sea turtles, leatherback sea turtles, and loggerhead sea turtles.

The DEEP reports that nine out of the 12 turtle species found in Connecticut are currently on the state’s List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species.

Humans are the leading cause of harm to the turtle population with the DEEP citing specific reasons as, “Habitat loss and degradation; over-harvest of wild turtles for food, traditional medicines, and pets; mortality from roads, agricultural machinery, fishing by-catch, and predators; exotic invasive species and diseases; loss of unique genetic make-up due to hybridization; and climate change.”

Pam Meier, founder/director of the nonprofit organization The Turtle’s Back, Inc, dedicates her time and skillset to helping all types of turtles in need.

“I was permitted by the state DEEP in 2015 as a wildlife rehabilitator and decided to specialize in turtles, because they are one of the most endangered vertebrate groups on the planet,” Meier said. “And since rehab is an expensive, time-consuming volunteer job, I wanted to put my resources toward animals that really need help. I treat injured and sick turtles — and sometimes other reptiles and amphibians — at my home.”

The most common calls she receives are from people who found an injured turtle, a baby turtle far from water, a snapping turtle in their yard, or that a turtle is laying eggs in their yard. In addition to aiding wild turtles, she also gets calls from people looking to rehome pet turtles they no longer want.

“I usually only take in wild-caught native ‘pet’ turtles, which are illegal for the public to possess,” she explained. Doing so helps prevent people from releasing these turtles back into the wild, where they can introduce harmful diseases to the area.

The Turtle’s Back receives most calls about wild turtles during nesting season, which usually occurs late-May to early-July.

This is so, Meier said, because female turtles have to travel to find nesting spots and, en route, get hit by vehicles when crossing roads.

Similarly, during the spring and fall, male turtles travel in search of mates or new homes and get injured in the process.

“Drought drives all turtles to search for wetlands that have enough water, and hatchlings emerge in late summer/early fall and also spring, [and] are often found in odd places and need help getting to water,” Meier said. “Every year has the same overall patterns, but each is different, depending on conditions/weather patterns.”

Turtle Crossing

When a turtle is determined to accomplish its mission — whether it is for nesting, mating, or searching for water — it refuses to let anything stop it. As a result, that quest usually has it so focused that the turtle may not mind walking right across all types of roadways.

Unfortunately, turtles are not exactly known for being the quickest animal (we all know the fable of the turtle and the hare). The good news is that humans can give turtles a boost in the right direction to safely help them on their way.

Meier recommends, “Always take them to the side they’re headed toward; if you don’t, they’ll head back into the road. Put your flashers on when you stop (and only do so if it’s safe), because the cars behind you may not see the turtle with your car in the way and hit it.

“Snappers are more afraid of you than you are of them and will keep crossing if traffic is stopped and people don’t get too close. They can also be moved by coaxing them onto car mats, then dragging the mats across the road, or by throwing a towel or blanket over them and carrying them in the middle of their shells, between the legs.”

The DEEP also states that, “Snapping turtles can be large, heavy, and feisty, so if you are unable to ‘shoo’ them across the road, pick them up by the back of their shells, not by their tail, to avoid a bite. Some people use a shovel or a stick to push or skid snapping turtles across the road.”

For those able to help, she reminds people to remain calm through the process and to move slowly so as to not elicit a defensive reaction from the turtle.

If someone spots a healthy turtle in the wild and feels the inclination to take it from its home as a pet, it is important to remember they are wild animals and should remain in the wild.

“In addition to habitat loss, illegal collection is one of the main reasons turtles are in danger of extinction. Never take wild turtles home as pets, and never include location info on social media when posting about turtles you’ve found in the wild! It’s easy to remove location info from photos; just Google it,” Meier said.

Not only is it illegal to steal a wild turtle in nature as a pet, but removing it from its home will take away its chance to reproduce and help the species’ population.

Those that were unaware of the ramifications of their actions and who already have a wild turtle as a pet should not release it back into the wild.

“Even if you have kept its tank clean and the turtle appears healthy, the turtle may have picked up disease while in captivity and could infect wild populations if released. Contact a rehabilitator, who can take and evaluate your turtle and work with the DEEP to find an appropriate placement for it,” The Turtle’s Back details on its website.

In addition to keeping an eye out for turtles on roadways and out in nature, people need to be mindful of checking their yards for these reptiles when doing lawn work.

To make a turtle-friendly habitat in your yard, Meier advises, “Let some areas be wild and weedy, raise mower blades and mow from the center out, create brush piles and leave them undisturbed, preserve known nesting areas (which are usually returned to every year), and be aware that turtles love to nest in mulch and soil piles and gardens — if you dig up a nest, stop digging and don’t rebury exposed eggs; call a rehabber to extract the nest and incubate.”

Aiding The Injured

Time is one of the most important aspects of helping save a turtle if it is injured. If you come across an injured turtle, never assume someone else will stop to help or that it will be fine to heal on its own.

During turtle season, people can stock their car with a large bin or box, towel, and gloves which will be helpful for all sizes of turtles.

The Turtle’s Back encourages people to take an injured turtle with them and place it in the container; keep it dry with no food, water, or grass – just a cloth or paper towel underneath it; keep it covered to help prevent flies from laying eggs in the wound, which can lead to maggots and kill the turtle; and get to help as soon as possible.

If people need assistance with turtles, they can contact Meier by e-mail at theturtlesbackct@gmail.com or by calling 203-903-2708. She also provides information on The Turtle’s Back website, theturtlesback.org, and through its Facebook page for many different scenarios people may encounter with turtles.

Regardless of where someone is located in Connecticut, Meier encourages people not to hesitate to contact her, because she has access to a group of wildlife transporters that can pick up the turtle and bring it to her.

Additionally, residents are always able to call the Newtown Animal Control Center directly at 203-426-6900 to report any animal in need of help. When leaving a message for assistance, people should give a description of the animal and its location.

For a list of authorized rehabilitators (individuals and organizations) throughout Connecticut, visit portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/rehabilitator/dealing-with-distressed-wildlife.

Alissa Silber can be contacted at alissa@thebee.com.