BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 13, 2024
Now that spring is truly underway, you’ll be seeing more of Maine’s turtles on the roadways. The slow-moving animals tend to seek out the sandy shoulders of roads located near rivers and streams to lay their eggs, and in their journey to find a nesting spot, they often cross busy roadways. There are six types of turtles in Maine that are susceptible to becoming roadkill: the Blanding’s turtle, the spotted turtle, the painted turtle, the common snapping turtle, the wood turtle and the musk turtle. Turtles tend to seek out mates throughout May, and will typically lay their eggs in late May and early June. This is when they are typically seen on roadways. If you spot one of these reptiles crossing a roadway this summer, here are some ways you can help them out.