Leave Snapping Turtles Alone: Milford Animal Control

MILFORD, MA — With the weather warming up, all kinds of wild animals are popping out to enjoy, including snapping turtles. Milford's Animal Control Officer (ACO) took to Facebook to warn residents who may be seeing more of their shelled neighbors. Snapping turtles may come out now to lay their eggs, but Milford's ACO said the best thing people can do, is nothing at all.

"Give a turtle a break," the post reads. Milford's ACO said they're been getting calls from residents fearing the turtles will lay eggs in the yard and once hatched, be overrun by snapping turtles. "No, if they hatch you probably won't even see them," the post reads.

May through July is turtle nesting season and many turtles exhibit nest site fidelity where they return to the same location several years in a row, according to the state's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.

You might see snapping turtles crossing the road to get to their preferred nesting sites — Milford's ACO says let them pass. If you feel the need to help them cross, bring them in the direction they were already headed, if not they'll just turn around and try again. Becareful where you grab a snapping turtle, they're fast (ironic, huh) and have very powerful jaws that can inflict a bad bite.

A snapping turtle can reach your hands if you lift it by the sides of its shell, but they can't reach your hand right under the shell, or at the bridge of the shell. But don't lift them only by the tail, it can hurt their spine.