After a cold and wet May, we are welcoming the month of June. During the month of June, I usually have several notations in my diary that I had watched turtles attempting to cross the road, however being slow a turtle does not always make it to the other side.

The turtles being seen were females that left the water to find a suitable sunny spot to dig a hole to lay her eggs.

Turtles are the most familiar and easily recognized of all reptiles. Our word turtle for the reptile is somewhat of a mystery, but it is generally assumed to come from the French word tortue. Our word tortoise comes from the same word.

The common snapping turtle is found throughout Pennsylvania, while the alligator snapping turtle, which is considered an endangered species, is found mostly in our Southern states. Snapping turtles are omnivores, feeding on both plant and animal matter.

Our snapping turtle’s scientific name is Chelydra serpentina with the Chelydra coming from the Greek word chevron meaning an amphibious serpent, a kind of tortoise. The serpentina is a Latin word meaning a serpent, however this name does not seem suitable, since the snapping turtle has a vicious bite and will even attack humans.

The name is derived from the fact that it has a highly flexible and mobile head and neck, which are compared to the movement of a snake. This turtle also has muscular legs with strong, long claws and a long tail.

When confronted on land these turtles become aggressive, however in the water they tend to slip quietly away.

Reptiles are almost entirely dependent on the temperature of their surroundings to regulate their body temperature. Birds and mammals are warm blooded, a condition known as homoeothermic, which comes from the Greek word homoios, meaning like or similar. The temperature of the blood remains the same under all conditions and is automatically controlled by the nervous system. It is higher in birds (about 106 degrees) than mammals.

All turtles enjoy soaking up the rays of the warm sun, however during the summer when it becomes too hot, they need to avoid long exposure to direct rays of the hot sun.

The upper part of the turtle’s shell is composed of the backbone and ribs, which have grown together with plates of bones that start in the skin. Since turtles use its ribs as part of its armor, the ribs are no longer able to help in expanding its chest for breathing. If a human’s ribs could not move, he or she would have difficulty breathing. If you have ever had a cracked or broken a rib, you are aware that your ribs move when breathing, therefore you try not to breathe heavily.

Of course, when you feel a sneeze coming on or a reason to laugh, you grab your ribs to keep them from moving.

Since a turtle’s ribs do not move they have three muscles that control the lungs during breathing. Respiration is accomplished by two flank muscles that enlarge the body cavity and suck air into the turtle’s lungs. Air is forced out of the turtle’s lungs by the third muscle that presses the turtle’s viscera against the lung.

All species of female turtles lay eggs. They must leave the water to perform this egg laying. After laying the eggs the female covers them with soil and then departs, allowing the sun to incubate the eggs.

Usually hatching time arrives in two months — approximately 16 weeks for the snapping turtle — depending on the weather and location of the nest. Each species of turtles lay different amounts of eggs. Snapping turtles lay 25-50 eggs while eastern mid turtles lay six. The eastern box turtle will lay up to eight.

Most of this egg laying is done during the month of June.

An open and sunny area will be selected for the nest site. Soft soil is a requirement To dig a nest, however these nest sites are not necessarily located near water. At times, the female will travel up to a mile when searching for the correct spot to make a nest.

The nest, which is dug with the back feet, will be a slanted hole about 12 inches wide and 4-7 inches deep. After the eggs are laid, the female uses her hind legs to push the eggs into this hole.

Usually by September the sun hatches the eggs, but further north, eggs could lie dormant throughout the winter months and hatch the following spring. Upon hatching, the young turtles must make their way to water. Although biologists are not sure how the young turtles know which way to travel to find water, they suspect humidity and the position of the sun play a part.

If a young turtle is turned in the wrong direction, it will turn around and head for the nearest water.

You might be surprised to find that turtles are sold on the black market. I read in the Keystone Warden Magazine about snapping turtles being sold on the Asian medicine trade black market. On July 24, 2014, while patrolling I-80, one corporal of the Pennsylvania state police stopped a van traveling at a high rate of speed. As it turned out this was not going to be a typical traffic stop.

While questioning the two Asian occupants, the trooper heard a sound coming from the rear of the van. When asked about the noise the two men replied that they were the only ones in the van. Upon investigation, the trooper discovered 29 extremely large snapping turtles moving about in the rear of the van. Eventually, the two men, who were from New York, told the trooper that they had purchased the turtles.

At that time under state law, an individual was permitted to catch snapping turtles if in possession of a fishing license. The snapping turtle season was from July 1 through October 31 with a daily limit of 15 turtles. If the angler wishes to sell the turtles, a commercial snapping turtle permit must be obtained and an annual report submitted to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

After contacting the Fish and Boat Commission, the trooper found out that the two men had neither fishing licenses nor receipts to prove the turtles were purchased. The snapping turtles were seized.

This incident led to an undercover operation in which two Fish and Boat Commission Officers began dealing in illegal wildlife with these two Asian men. The undercover officers eventually sold 16 rattlesnakes and over the next 18 months more illegal wildlife, including beaver, black bear, with gallbladders taken from black bear.

In February of 2016, the men involved were charged with 28 violations. Eventually, the defendants, who pled guilty to seven summary and two misdemeanors, were ordered to pay fines of $9,609.89.

Of course, their hunting and fishing privileges were revoked.

So while you’re driving, keep an eye out for turtles crossing our roadways.

Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.