Emaciated, Dehydrated Turtle Found On Road: 'They Can't Cry For Help'

MANORVILLE, NY — A dehydrated and emaciated turtle, who was suffering badly, was found on a Manorville road by a good Samaritan this week, advocates said.

Karen Testa, executive director of Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons in Jamesport, said the turtle was brought in Wednesday by Greg Messina, who found her. The turtle had the words, "I want in Russia," painted on its back. She was found upside down on the street, Testa added.

The turtle, a female, is extremely dehydrated and emaciated, she said. "I think kids may have brought her into the house, when she should have been hibernating this winter, and just probably dumped her outside when they were through playing with her," Testa said.

The turtle had no time to acclimate and wasn't eating, Testa said. "They don't eat when brought inside, due to stress," she said.

The turtle is extremely underweight — 200 grams under normal weight — and very sickly, with eyes swollen shut, Test said. "She's in very bad condition."

"They are sun-loving creatures and if they're not warm and humid with correct foods, they get sick," she said. "Turtles are very hard to keep healthy, and the paint on her back entering her bloodstream didn't help."

Testa also emphasized that motorists should be wary of turtles on the road at this time of year, when turtles are on the go. "It's nesting season, and they're just coming out of hibernation now, so are really active, trying to get their first meal after six months and trying to warm up from the sun."

As well as vehicles strikes, turtles are faced with other dangers, Testa said.

"They can't cry for help," she said. "And they are susceptible to kidnapping because they can't run away like most wildlife."