TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Wildlife enthusiasts are helping migrating turtles cross a highway by collecting them in buckets.
The effort, organized through Facebook, also collects data for researchers in Indiana State University’s biology department, the Terre Haute Tribune Star reported.
Naturalist Amber Slaughterbeck said this time of year is a busy migration period for the turtles.
According to the group Wabashiki Turtle Research and Rescue, fewer turtles and other creatures have been killed on U.S. 40 since the Indiana Department of Transportation installed a fence this summer.
When the group arrived at the location recently, 46 live turtles were rescued along the fence. Another team rescued 11 more the next morning.
“The majority of those, if we hadn’t had the fence, probably would have been smashed on the road,” said Leah Dresdow, a member of the group.
Dresdow said five turtles were found deceased.
The live turtles are collected in buckets and transported to nearby Lazy L Lake. Members determine the species and gender of each turtle, record any remarkable physical characteristics and note the time of day and environmental conditions when they were found. They also measure the reptiles before releasing them.
“Once you start saving those little turtles, it’s kind of addictive,” Dresdow said.
The average turtle collected from the area is 5 inches long, but some are as large as 10 inches. The most common species found are painted turtles.