29/09/2023
Why did the Hickatee Cross the Road?
In the Cayman Islands we have two major groups of turtles:
1) Sea Turtles have hydrodynamic wing-like flippers for life swimming in the salty sea
2) Hickatees have stubby legs and clawed, webbed feet for an amphibious life on land and in fresh or brackish water.
Hickatees will spend most of their life in ponds and inland mangrove areas, but sometimes, male turtles will leave their ponds to walk as far as several kilometers in search of new territory with a potential mate.
Unfortunately, traveling on land has its hazards, especially when crossing roadways. So, if you see a turtle crossing the road, please stop and help it make it across safely.
First, CHECK to be SURE what type of turtle it is.
If it is a Sea Turtle, PLEASE contact the DoE Turtle Team 24/7 on 938-NEST (6378) IMMEDIATELY for assistance.
If it is a Hickatee, help it across the road in the same direction it was traveling, setting it down to face away from traffic.
Turtles can be handled by holding the sides of the shell with your hands behind the front legs. Remember to always wear gloves and/or wash or at least sanitize your hands after handling reptiles.
Together, we can keep both our land and sea turtles safe!
