Wildlife Coexistence Guide
Virginia’s Native Turtles
Nature’s quiet helpers — ancient, resilient, and vital to healthy ecosystems. Here’s how to appreciate and protect them.
Ecological Role
Why Turtles Matter
Seed Dispersers
Many turtles eat fruits and berries, helping spread native plant seeds throughout forests and wetlands.
Nature’s Clean-Up Crew
Some species eat dead animals and decaying matter, helping keep waterways and habitats clean.
Insect Control
Turtles consume insects, snails, slugs, and other small invertebrates that can impact plant and garden health.
Aquatic Health
Aquatic turtles help recycle nutrients and maintain balanced pond, lake, and stream ecosystems.
Food Web Contributors
Turtle eggs and hatchlings provide food for many native predators, supporting biodiversity across species.
Habitat Indicators
Healthy turtle populations often signal healthy habitats. Their decline is an early warning sign of ecosystem stress.
You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Turtles
Turtles are among the most peaceful wildlife you’re likely to encounter in Virginia. Their instinct is always to avoid — not confront.
- Turtles are generally shy, non-aggressive animals
- Most would rather hide or retreat than interact with people
- They do not chase people and rarely bite unless handled improperly or cornered
- The best way to appreciate a turtle is to observe from a respectful distance
Common Situation
Helping a Turtle Cross the Road
If it’s safe to stop — do this:
- Move the turtle in the direction it was already traveling
- Carry it low to the ground in case it squirms
- Place it several feet off the roadway so it can continue its journey
Do not do this:
- Take it back where it came from
- Relocate it to a different pond, park, or neighborhood
When to Act
When Does a Turtle Need Help?
There’s No Such Thing as an Orphan Baby Turtle
This surprises many people — but unlike birds, squirrels, and rabbits, baby turtles receive absolutely no parental care.
- Mother turtles lay their eggs and leave — this is completely normal
- Hatchlings emerge fully on their own and know how to find food, shelter, and water
- Seeing a tiny turtle by itself is normal and does not mean it needs help
- Baby turtles are born self-sufficient — they are not orphaned, they are independent
Know the Difference
Woodland Box Turtle vs. Snapping Turtle
Learning key features helps you identify Virginia’s turtles — and keep both people and wildlife safe.
Woodland Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina carolina
Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Helping a Box Turtle Cross the Road
Safe to handle carefully by hand
Only stop if it is safe to do so without endangering yourself or other drivers.
Pick it up gently with both hands on the sides of the shell — hold it low to the ground in case it squirms.
Move it in the direction it was already heading. Never turn it around or take it somewhere else.
Place it several feet off the roadway on the side it was traveling toward, then leave it alone.
Helping a Snapping Turtle Cross the Road
Use tools — do NOT handle by hand
Only stop if it is safe without endangering yourself or other drivers.
Best method: use a snow shovel or piece of cardboard. Slide it gently under the turtle from behind and scoot it across the road.
If no tools are available, grip the rear of the shell with both hands well behind the head. Keep the turtle low and away from your body.
Move it in the direction it was already heading. Set it well off the road and walk away calmly.
In water, snapping turtles are harmless. They only become defensive when on land — keep any encounter brief.
Watch & Learn
AERO Video Resources
How to Pick Up a Turtle
Step-by-step handling guide from AERO
How to Help Native Box Turtles
Tips for supporting Virginia’s box turtles
Important — Virginia law: It is illegal to harvest, possess, or relocate snapping turtles without a permit in Virginia. Snapping turtles have powerful jaws and a very long reach — never pick one up by the tail, and never attempt to handle one unnecessarily. Appreciate wildlife — observe, don’t disturb.
Watch, Appreciate, and Protect
Every turtle safely helped across a road and every healthy turtle left in the wild contributes to the future of Virginia’s native wildlife. By giving turtles space and helping only when truly needed, we can ensure these ancient reptiles remain part of our ecosystems for generations to come.