The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is steering efforts to protect turtles. With a fresh set of signs, painted road stencils, and roadway innovations, the MPRB aims to alert both drivers and cyclists to turtle crossing zones along parkways adjoining Minneapolis’s lakes and ponds.
According to a government bulletin released by MPRB, "If more people are watching out for turtles in the road, fewer turtles will die from vehicle collisions." This effort comes on the heels of stats that spell a grim tale for our shelled saunterers; in 2021, a staggering 90 percent of reported turtle fatalities occurred on roadways.
The need for crossings comes into sharp focus, particularly during the spring and fall, which are synonymous with a spike in turtle mobility. These periods mark the transition of adult turtles to nesting grounds and the quest of hatchlings for water. Key hotspots like Cedar Lake Parkway, East Lake of the Isles Parkway, and West Lake Nokomis Parkway are getting the full turtle-friendly treatment. Recognizing the importance of these migrations, MPRB has removed sections of curbs to help the hatchlings, who are not much bigger than a quarter, bypass obstacles.
Other tactical modifications introduced by MPRB include the installation of center-line bollards, green stenciling on road surfaces, and the strategic placement of temporary “slow down” signs. Environmental Education Manager MaryLynn Pulscher echoed the initiative's sentiment, "Turtles are on the move in spring and fall," she said, suggesting a keen need for this vigilant approach. The public is encouraged to report sightings, steer clear of healthy turtles, assist only when needed, and not handle turtles excessively.
The MPRB implores the public to respect a speed limit of 20 mph in these areas. They also emphasize the illegality and harm of ‘adopting’ wild turtles, instead urging any would-be adoptive pet parents to connect with the Herpetological Society.
