By Susan Neull
It is likely that most Becket residents have witnessed a snapping turtle amble its way across a road from time to time, and many perhaps have even gotten out of their car to accompany the critter on its crossing to make sure other vehicles do not hit it. But what happens when a turtle does get injured? What do you do if you come across a large snapper who has had an encounter with a less observant motorist? If the turtle is lucky, the motorist or bystander calls The Berkshire County Turtle Rescue Organization in Pittsfield and Tracy Zustra springs into action to arrange transportation to her rehabilitation facility.
Tracy has been a licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 2011 but started specializing in turtles five years ago to meet the demand for this specialty in Berkshire County due to its abundance of ponds and wetlands, which are perfect habitat for turtles. Unfortunately, there are also roads that run between the ponds and the nesting sites. While vehicle-inflicted injuries are the most common, Tracy is also called upon to rescue turtles who have become ensnared in beaver control devices or run over by a lawn mower or dropped by a hawk.
Tracy rehabilitates all varieties of turtles. Most individuals have no problem picking up an injured North American wood turtle or a painted turtle but are intimidated by the menacing-looking snapping turtles. The key is to approach from the rear and grasp slightly behind the midpoint of the shell. Ideally, place the turtle in a storage tub, but if you don’t routinely carry one in your car anticipating you will encounter an injured turtle, placing the turtle in the footwell of the car also works. Or call Tracy and she will mobilize one of her many transportation volunteers. Tracy posts updates on all her patients daily on Facebook.
This time of year is very busy and often a sad time with so many pregnant females being hit by cars as they head to nesting sites. Frequently, Tracy needs to induce egg laying and incubate the eggs when the turtle is very badly injured or succumbs to its injuries. But it feels worthwhile when these eggs hatch and are then returned to the wild and celebrated on the occasion when the rehabilitated turtle is also returned to its pond. To contact Tracy: Phone 413-663-4555 or Website: https://berkshirecountyturtlerescue.org/
Tracy also posts updates on all the turtles on Facebook.
