For many of the state's turtles, the greatest amount of travel, particularly over land, occurs in late May and early June. Pennsylvania's turtles nest on land, out of the water. As roads often follow waterways, many turtles must work their way from lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands across the pavement to areas where they can dig in sand or soil to lay their eggs. Slow moving animals like turtles are no match for swift vehicle traffic. Be alert to the possibility of encountering turtles on the road.
Turtles are often difficult to see on the road due to their darkly colored shells and low profile.
Indeed, they can resemble a rock. Know when turtles are most likely to be on the move. Warm, humid mornings preceded by rainy nights are especially conducive to turtle movement. Don't assume you won't see a turtle just because you're not near a body of water. Low lying areas near wetlands, swamps, lakes, streams, rivers and ponds do provide habitat for many turtle species for most of the year.