Instructions
Watch for turtles on the road. Many female turtles are hit by cars crossing roads in order to return to their nesting sites. If you see a turtle on the road that has not been hit, gently pick it up by the shell and bring it across the road in the direction it was traveling. If you come across an injured turtle, take it to your nearest turtle rehabilitation organization and let them know where you found it so they can eventually release it back in the same area.
Leave turtles in the wild at all times, and never collect wild turtles as pets. Removing even one turtle from the wild can have damaging effects on their populations because of the amount of time it takes them to mature and reproduce.
Volunteer with turtle welfare organizations. There are many different types of turtle welfare organizations. Some take in and provide care to turtles that are hit by cars, while others travel to remote tropical locations and harvest, incubate and hatch sea turtle eggs. All of these organizations need volunteers to handle tasks as small as cleaning cages and as large as traveling to turtle nesting sites.
Donate to turtle welfare organizations. There are a number of turtle research and welfare organizations that help turtles by creating awareness about nesting site protection, helping injured turtles, and researching turtles to learn the best ways of protecting them. Some of these organizations are funded through universities, while others rely solely on donations.
Place a fence around turtle nests. If you have found a turtle laying eggs, leave it alone so as not to frighten it away. Once the turtle has laid its eggs and left the area, place wire mesh around the nest to protect it from predators that might try to eat the eggs. Never touch or move the eggs, because this can cause the embryos to drown.
How Can I Be a Turtle Helper?
Many different turtle species live across North America in lakes, ponds, rivers, beaches and wetlands. Both sea turtles and native turtle species need help. Some are endangered, threatened or in danger of losing their habitats. There are many ways everyone can be a turtle helper, no matter how old they are or where they live. Being a turtle helper is easy.