TURTLE TIME

This time of year, up here in Hayward, female turtles are out laying their eggs.  It is not uncommon to see painted and snapping turtles, on the shoulders of our rural roads, laying their eggs.  Often times I will see one of the ladies crossing the road and I am careful to avoid smashing her.  I have also been known to stop my car and help one of these creatures cross the road, but only the painted ladies.  Snapping turtles I leave alone.  Their jaws are very powerful and a couple of years ago one snapped a broom stick I was using to prod her out of my wife's herb garden.

Here is a picture of a recent snapper I found crossing Moose Lake Road near our organic farm:

Isn't she beautiful?  "With a face only a mother could love."  LOL!



So if you encounter one of our reptilian ladies crossing a road here in northwestern WI please be careful not to run her over so that she may safely lay her eggs.  After all, as ugly as these snappers are, they are still a part of our glorious northwoods!
Be well and have a great weekend!
Tom Berlage, Area North Realty, Hayward, WI