Turtles are common at OWLS. With the many highways and construction cutting through their territory they regularly come into contact with vehicles and pets. They arrive at OWLS with a variety of injuries including abrasions, punctures and cracked shells. Most injuries are treatable and believe it or not even their shells can be repaired!!
These are some of the common turtle injuries we see at the shelter. Crushed shells from cars or punctures from dog and cat attacks. These are photos of box turtles and snapping turtles
In this case, this snapping turtle needed some additional assistance to get his shell lined up for healing. Wiring the shell back together allowed the healing process to continue and once healed; this baby was sent back to his watery home.
TIP: If you want to assist a turtle on the side of the road, first check to see what direction it is facing. Is it heading into traffic? If it is, carry it in the same direction it is already heading across the street and out of harms way. The turtle will continue on it’s way. Redirecting it will only delay the inevitable…They have a very strong homing instinct and will continue to head in that direction.
WARNING: Do not attempt to handle snapping turtles. Their jaws are designed to slice, not crush or grind and it’s strong enough to bite through bone. Their neck is extremely long enabling them reach back by their hind legs. You are at serious risk of losing a finger if you attempt to handle these. Please contact the shelter and report injured snapping turtles.
