Columbia, SC (WLTX) — Drivers have one more animal to worry about hitting while driving.
With the change in weather, many turtles are migrating onto South Carolina roads to find a safe place to lay their eggs. But many drivers do not see the turtles due to their size.
Jay Cole, Executive Director at Carolina Wildlife, says hitting turtles in South Carolina has become a major problem.
“We’ll see about three four hundred turtles in a year that will come through here for different reasons, but the majority of them have been hit by a car and their shells are cracked,” Cole said.
Cole believes that the development of South Carolina’s roads can add to the amount of turtles getting hit.
“The more development we have, the more roads will build, the more likely they are to encounter a car and we don’t want that to happen.” Cole said.
Cole also asks drivers to be aware.
“The biggest thing is if you see a turtle in the road, slow down and give it a little bit of time,” Cole said. “Be watchful. Turtles are not like deer. If you hit a deer, you’ll damage your car so people try to avoid hitting larger animals, but remember that the turtle deserves to be there, too. “
If you come across a turtle that has been hurt, you can take it to Carolina Wildlife to be cared for.