When the baby turtles emerge

from their eggs, they will try to find suitable habitat, which may involve

crossing a road! Please try to avoid hitting them, and help them across

the road if possible. Please don't take the turtle (baby or adult) home

for a pet (that's illegal in Georgia!). The turtles deserve the opportunity

to live their lives in their natural habitat.

Many people mistakenly bring

home a box turtle (a land turtle) and put it in an aquarium, assuming

it is a water turtle! Conversely, many people don't understand why the

snapping turtle won't eat lettuce it's a predator looking for fish!

Please let the turtles live

in their natural habitat with as little interference from us as possible.

Every week I help at least

one turtle across the road. June 27 I stopped to help a box turtle on

Peachtree Parkway South, but just as I got out of my car, I saw a speeding

car aim for it. I was too late!

There was little traffic on

the road, and no one in the adjacent lane at that time; the car could

have easily avoided the turtle, instead of purposefully killing it. What

a shame! Further down the road I was able to help another turtle, but

I still ache for the one that was killed.

Turtles live 50 to 100 years.

They were Peachtree City residents long before we were. Let's please help

them move across the roads.

Connie Haynes

Peachtree City

[email protected]