South Simcoe Police are "shell"-ebrating the little things its members do in the community after an officer was able to help a turtle cross the road.
Police are often alerted to the presence of drivers speeding on roadways.
In this case, police were called Monday morning about a turtle in the area of Professor Day Drive and Line 8 in Bradford that was not moving fast enough.
"The responding officer moved the wandering reptile to safety," police said in a Twitter post with the hashtags #thelittlethings and #everydayisdifferent.
No "shell"-fies of the officer and turtle were posted, but police did post a few photos of the "shell"-ebrity turtle now safely in a grassy area.
Ontario is filled with wetlands, and turtles are on the move this time of year to get to nesting grounds, so drivers need to pay attention, wildlife experts say.
What should you do if you see a turtle on the road and decide you want to help the slowpoke get across to safety?
While calling the police is not on their list, the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre does offer these tips:
- Be aware of cars; do not attempt to help a turtle if it is not safe to do so
- Always move the turtle in the direction it was going/is facing
- Use a floor mat or shovel if you are uncomfortable or unable to lift the turtle
- Turtles carry many types of bacteria including salmonella – be sure to wash your hands after handling a turtle!
There are also precautions you should take if you are trying to move a snapping turtle as there is a greater chance of being injured, the conservation centre says.
To learn more, watch this demonstration video.
