Turtles are amazing creatures and have been around for a long time.
If you’ve spent time near the water, you might have seen one of these fascinating animals.
But what do you do if you notice a turtle separated from its home?
The answer is simple: Help it get back there.
A few simple steps can ensure that your new friend reaches safety.
The turtle needs substantial weight on its shell to help get out of the water.
If the turtle can’t get on the Dock, it’s probably because there is too little weight on its shell to help it float up and out of the water.
If this is the situation, you’ll need to help by putting something else heavy on its shell to push it into position.
Two people need to support the turtle, but only one should touch the shell.
When you approach a turtle that can’t get on the Dock, have two people with you.
One person should support the turtle’s head and neck, while another should support its shell.
The shell should be held at its outer edge, which is the most flexible, not near the middle or tail.
Do not lift the turtle by its tail—you may injure it yourself or break off its spine if you do so.
Turtles are slow-moving creatures and do not like being handled; they will try to escape if allowed.
Do not grab their shells or try to move them.
At the same time, they are being held by someone else because this will frighten them even more than they already are and make it harder for them to calm down again once they are released into their watery habitat.
Use the turtle’s feet to guide it in the right direction.
Once you’ve gotten the turtle to face the Dock, use its feet to guide it in the right direction.
Don’t try to stop its momentum or change its course; this will only confuse it further.
Instead, gently hold one of its feet and let go once that foot is on land. Repeat this process until all four feet are on solid ground, and then release your hold entirely.
Suppose the turtle freezes at any point during this process—especially if it seems frightened by something like a waving stick.
Take a step back and wait until you can get closer without scaring it again. Once they feel safe, they’ll start moving forward on their own.
Learn More:
The second person will watch for other obstacles that might harm the turtle as it travels to shore.
The second person will watch for other boats, jet skis, or other obstacles that might harm the turtle as it travels to shore.
This can be difficult if you are in a small boat with only two people.
If you see anything coming at you from behind, stop paddling and let the ship drift until you get past the danger zone before resuming your course.
Return it immediately to where you found it.
Once back on land, return it immediately to where you found it so it can continue to its denning site.
If you’re concerned that the turtle will make another attempt to reach the Dock, place something in front of the turtle, such as a large rock or plastic bucket filled with water, and this should keep the turtle from returning while you are away.
If you ever find a turtle in trouble, don’t hesitate to help it return safely home.
It’s important to remember that turtles are slow and vulnerable creatures, and they need our help if they get into trouble because it’s difficult for them to survive on their own without their shells.
So if you ever find a turtle in trouble, don’t hesitate to help it return safely home.
Conclusion
We hope this feature has given you the information to help turtles in distress.
We know it can be not easy, but we think that if we all take action when we see an animal in need, we can make a difference.
