Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania – A snapping turtle was rescued from the parking lot of a preschool in Lancaster County on Friday. A teacher discovered the turtle under a vehicle at the school, and a local non-profit reptile rescue organization was able to relocate the snapping turtle away from traffic.
According to Jesse Rothacker of Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary, snapping turtles are a protected species in Pennsylvania during their nesting season in May and June. It is illegal to disturb the nest or eggs of turtles in Pennsylvania. If you observe aquatic turtles on land, please keep pets and spouses away from them for a few hours. They will be gone the next day. Snapping Turtles live mostly in the water, but females are often observed digging in sand or compost or mulch piles to lay their eggs.
In most cases there is no need to do anything. We only relocated the snapping turtle in this case to get it away from cars and school children. If you watch the video you’ll understand why we couldn’t leave it there. When possible we do not move the turtles at all, and they go on their way like any other critters.
Harrisburg100 