Encountering a turtle often prompts curiosity about handling it. However, interacting with turtles requires careful consideration for the safety of both humans and the animals. Understanding proper handling techniques is important for responsible wildlife interaction, ensuring any intervention is beneficial and prevents harm.
Why Caution is Necessary
Turtles are wild animals that can pose risks to humans. A primary concern is the potential for bites, particularly from larger or more aggressive species like snapping turtles. Common snapping turtles can exert a bite force of around 210 Newtons. While not as strong as a human’s bite, their sharp jaws can cause significant damage, even severing a finger. Their long, flexible necks also allow them to reach surprisingly far to bite.
Another risk is bacterial transmission. Turtles commonly carry Salmonella on their shells and skin, even when healthy. Salmonella can spread to humans through direct contact, causing symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Infants, young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to severe illness from Salmonella infections.
Improper handling can also harm the turtle. Dropping or holding a turtle incorrectly can injure it, damaging its shell, which is an integral part of its skeleton. Handling stress can also negatively impact a turtle’s well-being. For egg-laying females, nesting disturbance can cause nest abandonment, affecting reproductive success.
Safe Handling Techniques
When picking up a turtle is necessary, specific techniques ensure safety for both handler and animal. For most common turtles, approach from behind. Gently slide fingers under the bottom shell (plastron) while placing thumbs on the top shell (carapace). Maintain a firm grip to prevent slipping, but avoid squeezing too hard; the shell is connected to its backbone. Keep the turtle level and avoid turning it on its back, which is stressful and makes breathing difficult.
Handling snapping turtles requires extreme caution due to their powerful bite and long necks. Never pick up a snapping turtle by the tail, as this can severely injure its spinal cord. The safest method involves grasping the back half of its shell, near the rear legs or marginal scutes (the plates along the edge). This position keeps your hands away from its head, which can strike backward, and its sharp claws.
For larger snapping turtles, use two hands to support their weight, one on each side of the shell near the back legs. Wearing protective gloves is also advisable when handling any turtle, especially snapping turtles, to reduce scratches or bacterial transmission.
When to Interact and When to Observe
Deciding whether to interact with a turtle or simply observe depends on the situation. Intervention is generally warranted when a turtle is in immediate danger, such as attempting to cross a busy road. In such cases, move the turtle in its original direction of travel to ensure it continues its journey and does not re-cross. If injured, contact a local wildlife rescue organization; they have the expertise to provide appropriate care.
Conversely, most encounters with turtles do not require human intervention. If a turtle is observed crossing a yard, basking, or nesting, leave it undisturbed. Observing from a distance allows the turtle to continue natural behaviors. Minimal human interference supports its natural lifecycle and reduces potential harm.