Operation Road Rescue: Successful!

jazmynn

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Today MOH and I were driving home from town when I zoomed by a small round shell with a tail sticking out! Without hesitation I slowed my car, turned around and parked. I got out and put my four ways on and sure enough there sat a little tarpin (land turtle) in the middle of the road. So I got out of my car and helped the little guy cross the road safely. I know this isn't anything major but I felt better today helping this little guy get across the road before being smashed.

I'm a sucker for animals!
 

rachelh1018

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I recently hit a turtle, I didn't see him at all but I heard the pop of the shell crack. I felt so bad. It was at night. The poor thing probably tried really hard getting across the road and I killed it.
I am glad that you were able to help the turtle you saw.
 
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jazmynn

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I'm sure the little guy knew you didn't mean it. My other half wanted to take him home, but I objected... I don't think he would have played well the kitties lol.
 

butterflydream

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I've always been fascinated by tortoises and turtles, before we moved from Summerfield housing in MD, I saw a huge freakin snapping turtle some lady stopped and told us he/she was at least 35 years old. Apparently she was an expert on turtles.

That guy was smart though, he would go up to the edge of the road, stop....look both ways to be sure no traffic was coming then cross.

DH tried to pick it up....firstly too big, it was heavy and secondly.....he tried to reach around and bite him.

Just my own turtle story.
 
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jazmynn

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lol. "Apparently she was an expert on turtles" That had me laughing so hard!
 

dixie_darlin

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My DH and I have stopped many times to move them. Living in FL we see them alot. One time my husband got out to move this HUGE gator turtle (snapping turtle with more jaw power) and when he picked it up, it peed!
I mean a stream about 5-6 feet! The kids and I about fell over laughing
 

satai

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Originally Posted by Jazmynn

Today MOH and I were driving home from town when I zoomed by a small round shell with a tail sticking out! Without hesitation I slowed my car, turned around and parked. I got out and put my four ways on and sure enough there sat a little tarpin (land turtle) in the middle of the road. So I got out of my car and helped the little guy cross the road safely. I know this isn't anything major but I felt better today helping this little guy get across the road before being smashed.

I'm a sucker for animals!
That's really cool.
 

satai

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Originally Posted by rachelh1018

I recently hit a turtle, I didn't see him at all but I heard the pop of the shell crack. I felt so bad. It was at night. The poor thing probably tried really hard getting across the road and I killed it.
I am glad that you were able to help the turtle you saw.
I'm so sorry. Please try to remember that you couldn't see him, so you couldn't have done any different. It was one of those accidents that really couldn't have been avoided. I'll keep you in my thoughts.
 

trouts mom

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I crashed my friends car when I was younger because of a turtle. We were driving along a country road and we were going around a curve, and there was this GIANT turtle!! It was huge! It was like the size of a car tire in the road. I tried swerving and missed the turtle, but landed us in the ditch...and of course, when we looked for the turtle, he was long gone!

That accident has haunted me forever..but now I know from an insurance and safety standpoint, its better to hit an animal then to swerve to miss it. *unless you can swerve safely*, Unfortunately, hitting an animal would be awful, but we have to be safe too. Poor little animals on the road.
 

pushylady

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That's wonderful that you rescued the turtle, Jazmynn. It's heartbreaking how much road kill there is.


Yesterday I rescued a turtle too! I was walking an inquisitive chocolate lab when we came across this baby turtle crossing the road. The dog was so good about not trying to eat him, I was so impressed. I picked up the little dude and put him safely in a field. I did have to fight the urge to take him home though. So cute!
I don't think my cats would've been as well behaved with it as the dog. Later on I found a bird's nest that had fallen out of the tree (minus eggs) so I took that home for the boys- something worth waking up for.
 

luckygirl

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That is great! And no, cats definately don't behave as well as your dog did when it comes to turtles, at least mine doesn't. She sits on the top of the turtle tank and watches the turtle constantly. The poor turtle is living in a constant state of fear!
Occasionally you'll see this paw come down on the side of the aquarium, trying to bat at the turtle from the outside.


Here is the link with a pic of her on "turtle patrol"

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90740
 
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jazmynn

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haha turtle controll!

Thanks for the compliments everyone, but I just did what I know all other TCS members would have done
 

satai

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Originally Posted by Trouts mom

That accident has haunted me forever..but now I know from an insurance and safety standpoint, its better to hit an animal then to swerve to miss it. *unless you can swerve safely*, Unfortunately, hitting an animal would be awful, but we have to be safe too. Poor little animals on the road.
This is one of the reasons I don't trust myself to drive - I couldn't bear the thought of hitting something, and for sure I couldn't NOT swerve. Too much responsibility that I'm not ready for.

I am trying to talk myself into learning so that I can have a kitty rescue mobile. Once I trapped a cat and had no way to get it to the vet, but its like a 1 minute drive to the vet and she (the vet) can down and picked us up.

Another time I found a sick dog - another vet at the practice was nearly dispatched for us, but the vet. nurse managed to get a hold of an animal welfare volunteer to pick him up.

Anyway, apologies if I'm hijacking, I was just musing on my own 'operation road rescue' plans - I wish I wasn't so conflicted about driving, because I know I could do alot of good...
 
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jazmynn

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I've found if you drive the speedlimit you generally have enough time to stop for animals. Because for the most part, most roadkill here occurs on back roads. ):

Hopefully you can conquer your fear of driving. I'm rooting for you!
 
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