Finding Turtles and Turtle Nests
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Copyright by Valerie Haecky. This document may be freely 
distributed for non-profit use, provided this notice is
included.


Here are your options if you find a turtle nest at a site
where you know the nest will get destroyed:

1) Make a chicken wire mesh and put over the nest site,
   then ignore and see whether turtles will hatch. You can
   make a wood frame to make it sturdier and keep the dogs and
   other predators away from eventual hatchlings. If this is
   in a lawn, don't mow around the nest, and don't walk on 
   the area.
   
2) Dig up, take indoors, incubate, then let babies go when
   they are a few weeks or months old. 

3) Relocate nest. This is tricky, since turtles eggs should
   not be turned over once layed. Also, picking a good nest
   site can be tricky, too. You'd have to take out the nest with
   quite a bit of dirt, and then "repot" it at the new site.
   However, if you think this will improve the turtle's chances,
   why not give it a try. Pick a site that does not soak, drains
   well, does not completely dry out, gets some sun, and make sure
   you don't turn over the eggs during digging and transport.

4) Do nothing. This sounds heartless, but only a small number
   of nests survive predation in the wild, and only a small 
   number of hatchlings survive to adulthood. 

5) Instead of incubating the eggs yourself, find someone who would
   take them. 


Here are your options, if you find a turtle:

1) Do nothing. If the turtle is in a safe place and healthy, this is
   the best thing for the turtle.

2) If the turtle is in a bad place where it will be hurt, transport
   the turtle out of danger. If it is a road, carry the turtle to the
   side towards which it was going. (Otherwise, it will try crossing the
   road again.) If it is in your yard, or some other unsuitable location,
   release the turtle at a safe location where you know turtles live.

3) If the turtle is sick, you can take it home, help it get well, and then
   either keep it or adopt it out. Do not release a turtle that you have kept
   captive for a longer time.

4) If the turtle you find is not native to the area, and you are willing to
   take care of a turtle, take it with you. You are doing the native fauna
   a favor.