Snapping Turtle: Rescue - Repair - Recover - Release

On Monday, September 10, 2007, heading to work, I saw a very large turtle
with a broken back (shell) on the street, bleeding, in the far right lane, facing east. It would appear
that it had wanted to cross all four lanes of very busy traffic, but did not
even get passed the first lane.

A kind gentleman who drove a truck, stopped, came over and assisted me.

It was a Snapping turtle, and as its name suggests, it can snap and bite. Hard.
I called into Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where I volunteer, and
spoke with someone who could instruct us on how to handle the turtle safely.

The gentleman put on the gloves that I gave him, picked up the turtle and placed him/her in my car's trunk.

I drove the injured Snapping turtle to Willowbrook.

The turtle remained in ICU for 25 days.
Expert wildlife rehabilitators repaired its shell and on the 26th day, it was released back to the wild.

Willowbrook Wildlife Center cares for injured and orphaned wildlife.
Once recovered, or grown, the animal or bird, is then released back into the wild.
The center is also a wonderful source of education.
Visiting public can view Bald Eagle, Red Fox, Peregrine, Woodchuck, Turkey
Vultures and many more species up close.
Willowbrook is open to the public 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm.

Please drive safely and responsibly and please try to keep in mind that there
are residents in every town that walk, fly, hop and crawl slower that our fast moving vehicles.

Thank you.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• snapping
• snapper
• turtle
• release
• injured
• injury
• car
• run
• over
• hurt
• bleeding
• sad
• wounded
• expert
• care
• rehabilitate
• released

[kdjfnvjvd]

I was proud of myself yesterday. I was driving along this one road near my house where there is this swamp. There's always squached turtles on this road and it saddens me. Well, I was driving along and a lil painter was basking in the middle of the road!! I slammed on the brakes,put on the hazards,got out and picked him up and threw him back in the swamp. I'd like to think I helped the turtle world a bit that day. I love turtles!! :)

[willowbrookwildlife]

Good job! It's a good thing to try and remember too that if you pick up a turtle in the road, try and put him on the side that he is aimed at (facing or walking to). Otherwise, he/she may just try and cross the road again, and maybe not be so lucky next time. But thank You so much for doing that. I love turtles too!

[tr4lover]

Did you figerglass up his shell thats what it looks like?

[willowbrookwildlife]

The turtle's shell was patched with both fiberglass and epoxy - animal care staff cut a piece of fiberglass screen, and then attached it with 5-minute epoxy.

[veelalynne]

This made my day. It's got to feel good knowing that without you, that poor turtle would have died. You saved her life and she lives because of you!!

So many people hate snappers. A lot of people would have left her to die. I'm glad that you took the time to help her!!

[tylerdugray]

yay good job i love turtles thx for helping him

[marbugtti]

Good job, unlike those fucking kids who always try to catch wild turtles and abuse them

[Bananaz1114]

my red eared slider got bitten by a dog and his under shell was cracked and he is at the vet and needs surgery and it is saturday today and we will see if he is ok on monday by the way hes smaller that the size of your palm !!! my poor baby

[Starbuc1]

That was great. It's so nice to see the good things people do for a change. You did a very, very good thing and I think there is a turtle that thinks so to.

[willowbrookwildlife]

Thank you. The staff at Willowbrook does some amazing stuff. They are a very dedicated, highly professional group of individuals that help heal wildlife, while educating the public.