Turtles look tough, but they are in trouble! New Hampshire has 7 species of turtles and 4 are considered in greatest need of conservation. Worldwide, 50% of modern turtles are either threatened or extinct.
Major threats to turtles include loss of habitat due to development and roadways. Other threats include plastic trash, dogs, and non-native turtles released into the wild.
Every turtle is a miracle! Eggs and young turtles are food for many other animals. A turtle that beats the odds and makes it to adulthood can take up to 20 years to reproduce.
Join the Turtle Brigade
Want to help us help turtles? NH Animal Rights League is forming a “Turtle Brigade” to formulate a plan for better protecting New Hampshire turtles from unnatural hazards. Early ideas include assisted crossings, wide use of signage, and protecting/creating nesting sites. Implementation will begin Spring 2025.
Please sign up if you might like to be involved. Signing up is not a commitment!
Ways to help turtles
- Watch for turtles crossing the road and assist them if necessary
- Support conservation efforts
- Don’t disturb nesting turtles
- Watch dogs around wetlands
- Learn your turtles and report sightings to
RAARP@wildlife.nh.gov - Contact NHARL to help us help turtles!
The Ride of the Turtle Brigade
On June 8, 2024, the Turtle Brigade embarked on its very first mission. Our assignment? To remind the public that it’s turtle crossing season and to LOOK OUT!
Tessa, the giant paper mache turtle, led the way as the brigade traveled from Milford, north to Goffstown, and then east to Bedford.
At predetermined locations along this route, the brigade created a spectacle and erected signs at known turtle crossing sites. The signs are intended to remain for the season and will be removed in the fall.
Fortunately, we had lovely weather, so Tessa was able to stay atop the vehicle upon which she was born to ride.
Working as a team, we were able to erect signs quite efficiently, though we did encounter a few obstacles.
The lessons we learned from the mission will help make next year’s turtle brigade even better! If you’d like to help, sign up for the Turtle Brigade (above). Monthly planning meetings will begin the first week in September. We need your creative ideas and expertise.
Our native turtles face many challenges, of which car collisions are only one. However, “every turtle is a miracle”, and every turtle matters. So, even if we helped one turtle make it across the road this season unharmed, it was worth the effort.
Oh, and we forgot to mention, it was also quite fun!
