Cooperative Living June 2023 - 34

RURAL LIVING
It's Turtle Season
by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
Let's give these little guys our attention
I
don't knowwhy
I am so fascinated
by turtles. On my
daily walks, I keep
my eyes peeled for an
unmistakable hump,
perhaps moving slowly
down the grass. It's either a turned-over
fallen leafor ... it's a turtle!
Ifit's a turtle, my heart leaps. I leap
right after it, to assure the little creature
is out ofthe way ofany cars that may
come past. I've seen what can happen
when a car can't bother to get out ofthe
way to keep a turtle safe. Once, I visited
theWildlife Center ofVirginia in
Waynesboro, where they care for injured
wildlife until it can, hopefully, be
rehabilitated for release back into its
natural habitat.
The hospital staffwas caring for two
turtles with smashed shells. They looked
pitiful. The nurses were piecing their
shells back together with something
like Bondo. The turtles did not seem
to mind. And I was told they would be
" good as new " after everything set.
That made me feel good.
I am one ofthose-and there are
many ofus -who will pull over to
pick up a wayward turtle and place it on
the grassy side ofthe road. I don't know
ifthat's the direction the turtle had in
mind, but at least it's safe for now.
Once, I was driving up a curvy
mountain road and spotted a woman
standing near the center line. " What's that
crazy woman doing? " I wondered. Then,
I realized she was rescuing a turtle from
the highway. As I got closer and slowed
down, I realized it was my very own sister!
No surprise to me. God bless her.
I was riding with a friend one day
and suddenly, he screeched on his brakes,
pulled over in a cloud ofdust, hopped
onto the highway in front ofa speeding
log truck, and plucked a turtle out of
the truck's path. I was impressed!
Just this week, I was walking along
the wooded lane, and noticed a tell-tale
hump. My first turtle ofthe season! He
was tucked inside his shell. I marched
over, picked him up, and moved him out
ofthe road, and onto the verge, facing
toward the woods. He never left his shell.
Gee, I wondered, is he dead? Onmy way
back up the lane, I looked and there he
was, still tucked inside his shell. I felt
kind ofbad that I may have rescued a
dead turtle.
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32 ● Cooperative Living ●
June 2023
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So, the next day, I hiked back
to that very spot, and couldn't
see him anywhere. Hooray!
One day, I encountered the most
beautiful turtle I'd ever seen. His shell
seemed to be painted with bright orange
decorations. I looked up " painted
turtles " and discovered they exist, but
not around here. Maybe he was simply a
turtle who liked to travel long distances.
Another day on another mountain,
I ruined a $150 pair ofsnazzy shoes
rescuing a turtle. Turns out, he was
right near a big, muddy hole. No matter.
Turtles are worth more than snazzy
shoes.
On yet another drive, I encountered
the biggest, meanest-looking turtle I've
ever seen. He looked like a monster
turtle, and he looked mad as the dickens.
I could not make myselfstop to pick
him up. Maybe he was a snapping turtle?
I hope he is happily snapping at
something in a pond right now, no
thanks to me.
So please keep your eyes peeled
for the lumbering creatures along the
roadside, and give them a brake, or if
needed, a hand. They won't thank you,
but you'll feel really good about it. 
To order a copy ofMargo's " AParty ofOne, "
call 540-468-2147Mon.-Wed., 9-5,
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Cooperative Living June 2023

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