## Watch Out for Creatures on the Road
### Springtime Hazards
Spring brings more than just blooming flowers. Potholes, racing cars, and the occasional reptiles are all things to watch out for on the roads. Environmental stewards are reminding us that critters pose a hazard during this season.
### The Turtle Migration
Matthew Dionne, the regional manager of Best Cleaners in Middletown, often observes an extraordinary annual event. Adult turtles journey from Pameacha Pond on South Main Street to a marshy area behind his business.
“It’s a story passed down about turtles appearing each spring,” said Dionne, who records their march for nearly seven years.
Dionne notes that midsummer is the time for the baby turtles’ return trek to the pond.
### A Path Through the Cleaners
Remarkably, these turtles have selected a nesting site several hundred feet from the water, necessitating their passage through the Best Cleaners building and a bustling street. The cleaners oblige by leaving the doors open all summer, allowing the turtles safe passage.
### Lending a Hand
“When tiny, a helping hand is invaluable,” Dionne remarked. He and his team often assist the turtles, offering quick rides to ensure their safe journey across South Main.
“Offering assistance livens the workday,” he added. Experts fully endorse this practice.
### Expert Advice
According to Sarah Lawson, a professor of biological and environmental science at Quinnipiac University, preserving adult turtle populations is vital. This season sees various wildlife on the move, making it essential to help turtles while ensuring personal safety.
Lawson advises that assisting turtles should always maintain their direction of travel. “Remember, your safety comes first,” she noted.
### Mindful Driving
Even reducing speed for turtles can be significant. They aren’t mere creatures; they’re “ecosystem engineers,” crucial to ponds and lakes. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection concurs. If a turtle faces genuine danger, contact animal control or police, especially for snapping turtles.
### Protecting the Females
Jenny Dickson from DEEP highlights the importance of aiding female turtles. Road mortality primarily affects them as they cross often to lay eggs. A female’s death can severely impact the population, given the years they require to mature.
### Safeguarding Wildlife
Spring also sees young wildlife in motion, prompting Dickson to urge drivers to slow down and avoid animal strikes.
### Doing the Right Thing
Back at Best Cleaners, Dionne’s team consistently helps the turtles, believing it’s the neighbourly thing to do. “The turtles are our neighbours,” Dionne stated, emphasizing that aiding them ensures their survival for future generations.
“In spending a few minutes now, we ensure they outlast us,” he concluded.
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For further information on turtle conservation and road safety, you might visit [Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection](https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP) or learn more about [ecosystem engineers](https://www.britannica.com/science/ecosystem).
