This is my 500th post
Last Friday was dad's birthday.
On the way to my parents' house, Christa and I drove over a turtle.
I thought it was a rock in the middle of the road until the last moment. That's when I saw its little head sticking up.
It was in the middle of our lane, so we drove right over top of it. We were on a relatively quiet little patch of paved road in the middle of countryside.
At about the time it was passing under our feet, Christa said, "Oh my god! That was a turtle!"
I was already looking for a place to turn around when she said we had to go back. We did have to go back. It was trying to cross the road. There were a few cars behind us. It would probably get hit at some point.
We pulled into a driveway, waited for two cars to pass (the same direction we were going) and then drove back the way we came. As we did, a white SUV passed us going the opposite direction. It was slowing down.
I fretted that we'd find an ugly sight when we found it, but when we got back the turtle was still in the middle of the lane. Only now all you could see was the shell. Four cars driving over top of it had frightened the little thing into drawing its head and legs into the shell.
As we pulled over, the SUV performed a three-point-turn.
Christa hopped out as the big gas guzzler started back our way.
She picked up the turtle and placed it in the ditch on the side of the road it had been travelling to. The SUV had stopped by this point. They waved at us, turned around again and drove off the way they were originally going.
Christa later commented how amazingly warm and fuzzy it made her feel that somebody else had actually come back with the same intentions we had. I agreed.
I believe she said that it was a painted turtle (though if I'm remembering wrong, I'll hear about it and this will be edited tomorrow). She also said it was likely a female since they tend to travel more than males.
On top of that, it is one of the two species of turtle in Ontario that aren't severely threatened. The other six species are.
The reason you put a turtle on the side of the road it's travelling to is that it wants to go there. If you put it on the side it came from, it's just going to go out into traffic again to get where it's going.
The reason you stop is because if you save one turtle from getting pancaked by rubber and steel, you could be saving potentially hundreds of baby turtles that the turtle will lay over the course of its life.
On the way to my parents' house, Christa and I drove over a turtle.
I thought it was a rock in the middle of the road until the last moment. That's when I saw its little head sticking up.
It was in the middle of our lane, so we drove right over top of it. We were on a relatively quiet little patch of paved road in the middle of countryside.
At about the time it was passing under our feet, Christa said, "Oh my god! That was a turtle!"
I was already looking for a place to turn around when she said we had to go back. We did have to go back. It was trying to cross the road. There were a few cars behind us. It would probably get hit at some point.
We pulled into a driveway, waited for two cars to pass (the same direction we were going) and then drove back the way we came. As we did, a white SUV passed us going the opposite direction. It was slowing down.
I fretted that we'd find an ugly sight when we found it, but when we got back the turtle was still in the middle of the lane. Only now all you could see was the shell. Four cars driving over top of it had frightened the little thing into drawing its head and legs into the shell.
As we pulled over, the SUV performed a three-point-turn.
Christa hopped out as the big gas guzzler started back our way.
She picked up the turtle and placed it in the ditch on the side of the road it had been travelling to. The SUV had stopped by this point. They waved at us, turned around again and drove off the way they were originally going.
Christa later commented how amazingly warm and fuzzy it made her feel that somebody else had actually come back with the same intentions we had. I agreed.
I believe she said that it was a painted turtle (though if I'm remembering wrong, I'll hear about it and this will be edited tomorrow). She also said it was likely a female since they tend to travel more than males.
On top of that, it is one of the two species of turtle in Ontario that aren't severely threatened. The other six species are.
The reason you put a turtle on the side of the road it's travelling to is that it wants to go there. If you put it on the side it came from, it's just going to go out into traffic again to get where it's going.
The reason you stop is because if you save one turtle from getting pancaked by rubber and steel, you could be saving potentially hundreds of baby turtles that the turtle will lay over the course of its life.
What is it with you guys and animals on the road? Clearly you should give your car away to someone with better luck than you (me).
Posted by
Ian |
Friday, July 07, 2006 3:09:00 p.m.
I made a similar comment about ten minutes after it happened.
But note, this was good luck! The turtle was fine in the end.
Posted by
Aaron Jacklin |
Friday, July 07, 2006 3:13:00 p.m.
i'm sorry.. i hear this and all i picture is that scene in hitchiker's guide where he goes out and tries to greet the speeding car....
Posted by
Eldorado |
Friday, July 07, 2006 6:04:00 p.m.