The turtle had already finished laying her eggs when we encountered her on the road Sunday afternoon near the eastern edge of the Two Hundred Acre Wood. She was trying to return home, but was too exhausted to make it across the road, had simply collapsed on the median and was lying there, trying to find the strength to continue her crossing as traffic whizzed by her in both directions. She was alert but quiet, and one could see in her old eyes that she was resigned to what was going to be a gruesome ending to her life. We pulled over immediately, knowing that something had to be done quickly, or our snapper was going to be run over by a speeding vehicle.
As we climbed out of the car with our stout turtle stick, a truck traveling in the other direction stopped by the side of the road, and the driver hopped out carrying a fluorescent orange vest - he volunteered to help us move the weary turtle to safety. While our new friend directed traffic going in both directions, we prodded mama gently onto a towel and towed her over to the grassy verges by the beaver pond. She was too tired to react in any way at all, and she complied with nary a hiss or a snap, simply relaxing in the long grass when the move was over and breathing deeply.
I am probably "reaching for it" when I say that mama seemed thankful for our assistance, but I was glad we had been there when she needed us. Our snapper is a neighbor of sorts, and I really do love these magnificent reptiles.
OK, I am a little weird, but you already knew that...
14 comments:
so glad you happened by. :)
Thank goodness you were there, Cate! We have few road/turtle encounters here, but it's one of the things that really bothers me when I go east. Not enough people who care or take the time. I sure hope she's okay now!
I don't think you were reaching to say Mama Snapper turtle was thankful for your help. I believe animals sense our intentions be they for good or bad.
Once upon a time here in Florida I got out of my car and stopped traffic to help, what I thought at the time was a prehistoric turtle, cross the road. She was about 3 feet long and her back looked like a dinosaur with a spikey back and short tail. Turns out she was an alligator turtle.
I was so happy to help.
Good job Cate.
What a great story - Mama will pass along this story to her new ones next year!
I would not call you weird at all!! The weird ones are those who have no love for or understanding of the creatures that inhabit the earth with us and are so necessary to keep our Mother in balance! Bravo to you!!
The world needs more weird people like you. Bless you.
There's weird, and then there's weird that we need more of in this world. (And then there's Wyrd, of course, which none of us escapes.)
As others have said, I am very glad that you were there.
Nairn
We help turtles all the time but mostly of the smaller and 'boxy' variety. Thank you for taking the time to save that impressive lady.
Love imagining this... and thanks to your storytelling, I'm finding that easy to do.
I don't think you're weird at all, Cate. Compassionate and caring are the words that come to mind when one thinks of you.
I think the turtle really was grateful for your help, and I am so thankful that you were in that particular place at that particular time!
subledBless you for saving a bit of creation. Am sure the turtle sensed your help
So glad you were able to give the turtle some help to make it to a safe spot. We always stopped to make sure turtles completed their trip safely, or gave them a little helping hand if they were in danger. I think there are getting to be more people who are helping turtles, and less of the ones that used to go out of their way to run over one. Unfortunately, there are still a few neanderthals around, but I believe their numbers are shrinking. Nice photo of the turtle and in the shots a couple of days before too!
It is not at all "weird" to take the time to help out another being in need! All acts of love much appreciated!
What a lovely story, and good that the truck driver stopped to help as well.I hope that she recovered after resting in the grass and will spend another peaceful summer by the beaver pond.
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