MCCD Staff Incubates Turtle Eggs After Mother Hit by Vehicle

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A McHenry County Conservation District officer was able to release the young turtles he helped save, before they were even hatched from their eggs, in recent days. The McHenry County Conservation District officer Charlie Montgomery was off duty when he found a painted turtle that had been hit by a vehicle and brought it to the conservation district's Wildlife Resource Center, according to a conservation district post.

The Resource Center's staff was not able to save the turtle but did extract and incubate the eggs she was about to lay. The turtles hatched in recent weeks and last week, Montgomery was able to release the young turtles near where the mother turtles was found, according to the conservation district.

"Our conservation police officers not only protect the people who use our sites, they look out for the land and animals," the conservation district wrote.