05/02/2026
“This has been my home since 1972.”
For many turtles, that isn’t an exaggeration, it’s reality.
Turtles have an extraordinary ability called site fidelity, meaning they return to the same nesting areas, feeding spots, and overwintering sites year after year… For decades.
Some will spend their entire lives within the same stretch of land or water.
Even if the location you found a turtle in doesn’t make sense to you, there’s usually still no need to intervene. Many turtle species naturally travel over land between wetlands, ponds, and nesting areas, especially during breeding season or when females are searching for suitable places to lay their eggs. Research has shown that some turtles will travel hundreds of yards to even a few miles to reach these important habitats. What might look unusual to us is often a normal and necessary part of their life cycle, so the best thing we can do is give them space and let them continue on their way safely.
When a turtle is relocated, even with the best intentions, it doesn’t simply adjust to a new home.
Instead, it will try to find its way back. This can lead to days or even weeks of wandering, putting the turtle at serious risk of dehydration, starvation, and most commonly, being hit by vehicles as it searches for familiar territory.
Relocation also removes that turtle from an ecosystem where it already plays an important role. Every individual matters, and disrupting that balance can have impacts we don’t always see right away.
If you find a turtle that's in immediate danger (like on a road), help it safely continue in the direction it was already heading.
If you find an injured turtle, be sure to document right where you found it, take the turtle with you, and contact a wildlife rehabilitator right away for further assistance.
Otherwise, for uninjured animals, the kindest help is to simply let wild animals stay wild and right where they were found. Even if the location you found them doesn't quite make sense to you.
At MARS, we provide expert rehabilitation for cold-blooded animals, both wild and domestic. By working alongside a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles and amphibians, we’re able to ensure that every patient who comes through our doors receives the specialized, compassionate, and often life-saving care they deserve.
