Turtles are out & about in Minneapolis!

Share sightings & learn how to help without harm

2023 marks year three for Minneapolis’s bit.ly/ReportATurtle

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) received over 300 reports of turtle sightings in 2022, including many impressive photos and videos. We hope to receive even more this year!

Any and all reports about sightings in Minneapolis helps efforts to protect these animals at critical locations in the park system.

Why report?

Turtles are most vulnerable in springtime and when moving about on land.

Migrations of both adult turtles and tiny hatchlings can take them across roads and paths.

In 2021, dead turtles accounted for 10 percent of reported sightings; among the dead turtles, more than 90 percent were spotted in roadways.

Adults are leaving the water to find summer habitat or suitable nesting spots on land. Snapping and painted turtles, the most common species in Minneapolis, may migrate up to a mile to nest!

Meanwhile, hatchlings are emerging from their nests on land to make their way to water. These spring hatchlings have waited all winter in the nest (!) to make their move; in fall, eggs laid in the spring yield a new wave of hatchlings heading to water.

Even softshell turtles, which nest on beaches or other land close to water, can still be vulnerable to predators, including domestic dogs (one reason they must be leashed).

Based on 2022 turtle reports, MPRB is asking folks to consider a few things if they see turtles:

• Any turtle sighting, dead or alive, is important.
• A picture is worth 1,000 words!
  Include images if at all possible: They help verify turtle species and activities.
• Keep an eye out for turtles in North and Northeast Minneapolis and near the Mississippi River.
  Help us learn more – and share this information with friends and family who live or play in these areas.
• bit.ly/ReportATurtle is for turtles within Minneapolis.
  Report turtle sightings elsewhere at HerpMapper

May highlights: What to look for, how to help

Basking turtles

Turtles resting in the sun on rocks or logs may look like they’re socializing, but basking is actually a biological necessity. The only way cold-blooded turtles can raise their body temperature is to absorb warmth and vital UV rays from the sun.

Good habitat for basking is important. Basking turtles spread out their legs and position themselves to maximize their sun exposure; as the sun moves, so do they. In addition, they are usually surrounded by water when basking, which makes an already slow-moving animal even more vulnerable. Turtles usually bask during mid morning to early afternoon hours.

Spring hatchlings moving to water

These tiny, hard-to-see babies hatched from their eggs in 2022 and hung out all winter underground! Now they are emerging from their nests and moving to water.

It’s not clear why some hatchlings wait out the winter in their nest. Last year’s drought conditions may have played a role.

If you see a hatchling:

1. Share the details at bit.ly/ReportATurtle!
2. Make sure it is headed toward water. If it’s headed away from water, move it closer to the water, but let it do some of the walking.
3. DO help hatchlings cross roads! Only five percent (or fewer) survive to adulthood, so every one is important. If a turtle is injured, take it to a licensed rehabilitation center 0 such as the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota – as soon as possible.
4. DON”T kidnap hatchlings for “pets.”  It’s illegal to possess any turtle wild turtle. (And yes, turtles in Minneapolis are wild.)

How you can help

• When driving or biking near lakes, creeks and rivers, please slow down and keep an eye out for turtles. Most adult turtles are killed by cars!

• Spread the word: Share the bit.ly/ReportATurtle link with family, friends and neighbors.

• Identify Minneapolis turtles: Here are simple ways to do that.

• Leave healthy turtles where you see them. Move a turtle ONLY if it needs help crossing a road.
• Visit MPRB’s Turtles in Minneapolis page for information on helping a turtle across a road, helping an injured turtle, and more local and state resources.