MISSOURI, USA — Missourians will be enjoying the great outdoors in droves as temperatures continue to rise, but they won't be hitting the road as literally as another member of the animal kingdom.
Box turtles will also be pounding the pavement as they reach peak activity, putting themselves at risk of being hit by cars, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) said.
"Thousands of box turtles are killed each year by vehicles," MDC said on its website. "Turtles emerge from their winter burrows and begin to hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death."
Mating season for the turtles usually happens between late April and early July in Missouri. Young males, which make up the largest portion of the travelers, wander as many as six miles searching for new mates and territories. Females can also be seen crossing the roads in search of nesting areas.
Along with their evolutionarily driven road trips, turtles also like to spend time on warm asphalt during cool days because their cold-blooded nature makes them rely on external sources of heat to determine their body temperature, MDC said.
Box turtles, along with red-eared sliders, painted turtles, Mississippi mud turtles and even snapping turtles will be spotted on the roads heading into the summer.
"Vehicles are one of the leading threats box turtles face in Missouri, and MDC encourages motorists to be cautious and slow down if they see a turtle in the road," MDC said. "If helping a turtle make it safely across, check for traffic and always move the turtle in the direction it is traveling."
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