Turtle on the fairway: move him or leave him be?

[krupa]

I have a great respect for nature and wildlife. My general policy is do no harm and don't interfere.  However, I never know what to do when I come across a small turtle on the fairway.  On the one hand, he's doing whatever it is he thinks he needs to.  On the other hand, I have visions of finding him with a golf ball embedded in his shell.  I should note at this point that I am a software engineer and for all I know a turtle's shell is stronger than a golf ball.

So do you move small turtles out of "harm's way" when you come across them on the fairway or let them be?

 

[GolfLug]

Fairway? I think ok to let him/her be. Don't think a golf ball can embed in a shell. Don't think you can even crack it.  

Street? Absolutely move them. Car weight can crush them. I have stopped my car, picked up turtles from street many a times and expedited their journey to the other side. Be careful if you pick up a snapping turtle. Bite strong enough to break a finger bone.  

[Gator Hazard]

Yeah I leave them be if in fairway. We had this one cross our path about a month ago. He's bigger than the picture gives credit for, huge turtle just chilling in the fairway right in my worm burner line. 

[bkuehn1952]

14 minutes ago, krupa said:

So do you move small turtles out of "harm's way" when you come across them on the fairway or let them be?

In my part of the country I first determine whether the turtle is a snapping turtle or just an eastern painted turtle.  I leave snappers alone as they have a fairly long, flexible neck.  The eastern one's I tend to pickup and move them along in the direction they were traveling.  They tend to urinate when picked up so one needs to be sure to aim them in the right direction.

[Golfingdad]

Would slide my ball over such that a bladed shot wouldn't hit him.  I don't know enough about turtles to know if touching them is ok.

If I was in a tournament Id probably just hit a really fat shot because I'd be so terrified of blading one.

[krupa]

7 minutes ago, GolfLug said:

Fairway? I think ok to let him/her be. Don't think a golf ball can embed in a shell. Don't think you can even crack it.  

Street? Absolutely move them. Car weight can crush them. I have stopped my car, picked up turtles from street many a times and expedited their journey to the other side. Be careful if you pick up a snapping turtle. Bite strong enough to break a finger bone.  

 

1 minute ago, bkuehn1952 said:

In my part of the country I first determine whether the turtle is a snapping turtle or just an eastern painted turtle.  I leave snappers alone as they have a fairly long, flexible neck.  The eastern one's I tend to pickup and move them along in the direction they were traveling.  They tend to urinate when picked up so one needs to be sure to aim them in the right direction.

So as something of a "city boy", I don't know what a snapping turtle looks like.  I moved that little guy along and he just pulled into his shell and pee'd a bit.  I expected the pee, and didn't get hit.

[DaveP043]

2 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

In my part of the country I first determine whether the turtle is a snapping turtle or just an eastern painted turtle.  I leave snappers alone as they have a fairly long, flexible neck.  The eastern one's I tend to pickup and move them along in the direction they were traveling.  They tend to urinate when picked up so one needs to be sure to aim them in the right direction.

I think the turtle is probably in no danger from a golf ball, but a mower or even a golf cart might be a different matter.  Even so, I wouldn't get near a snapping turtle.  I'm no expert, but the pointed rear edge of the shell makes me think that the one in the photo just could be a snapper.

[krupa]

I should have also mentioned, when I came back by this fairway on a parallel hole, I'm pretty sure I saw that he walked back to the middle of the fairway, so I realize there's only so much I can do.

[saevel25]

2 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'm no expert, but the pointed rear edge of the shell makes me think that the one in the photo just could be a snapper.

That looks like a snapping turtle. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_snapping_turtle

 

[nevets88]

4 minutes ago, krupa said:

 

So as something of a "city boy", I don't know what a snapping turtle looks like.  I moved that little guy along and he just pulled into his shell and pee'd a bit.  I expected the pee, and didn't get hit.

DO NOT F**K WITH SNAPPING TURTLES.

 

[krupa]

12 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

DO NOT F**K WITH SNAPPING TURTLES.

 

Roger that!  The turtle in my picture was small enough to pick up with one hand.  I would not have done anything with a turtle that required two, they can take care of themselves.

[billchao]

I agree with the others. Don't touch that thing (oops too late) because it looks like a snapping turtle and it's not in any real danger anyway.

I saw a turtle (actually a tortoise) shell cracked in the middle of the street by my house with a pool of blood under it the other day and it made me sad. I stopped to check on it but it was clearly beyond help.

[xcott]

a golf ball will almost certainly crack and break a turtle shell, imo

[CoachCad8]

I don't mess with them on the golf course. I have never seen one in a place where it would be a problem, like the middle of the green or a tee box.

I did however run into this guy on the cart part the other day.  Needless to say I didn't mess with him.

I do always stop and pick them up off the road though. 

Edited May 31, 2016 by CoachCad8

[Groucho Valentine]

The answer is clear. 

Take him home and infect everyone you dislike with salmonella. 

[Rainmaker]

If he was in my way, I'd flip him out of the way with my golf club . .making sure it ends up on it's feet, of course.  Otherwise, I know for a fact turtles can fend for themselves.  My area is overrun with em. 

[David in FL]

Other than those that have ventured onto a road, the turtle is perfectly capable of looking after himself without any help from us.

[freshmanUTA]

2 hours ago, GolfLug said:

Street? Absolutely move them. Car weight can crush them. I have stopped my car, picked up turtles from street many a times and expedited their journey to the other side. Be careful if you pick up a snapping turtle. Bite strong enough to break a finger bone.  

If we're being Technical here: turtles are often stressed by people picking them up, and other animals won't treat them the same because of the human smell. so unless it's in direct danger of serious harm, don't pick them up.