It could have ended tragically for one turtle on Monday, May 28, 2018 in Port Hope.
A turtle was crossing four lanes of the road on County Road 2 near Hamilton Township Boundary Road at approximately 6 p.m.
The slow moving turtle was narrowly missed by several vehicles travelling in both directions as it crossed from the north side to the south side of the roadway.
One vehicle even stopped on the eastbound fast lane to let the turtle safely pass by, but others swerved to avoid it or directly went over it without striking it.
As it was nearing the south side of the road, a turtle saviour arrived on site.
Mallory Ford was heading home to Cobourg with a friend after work when she spotted the turtle.
“It looked like a boulder on the road, but it wasn’t a boulder because it had feet and a head.”
Her friend Lisa swerved to avoid the turtle and the pair took action to prevent someone else from hitting it. By the time the pair had turned around, the turtle had made it to the south side of the road, but there was no way it would be able to scale the curb.
“We saw a few other people pull over and assumed someone else would pick him up, but the others weren’t comfortable with little animals that look like dinosaurs.”
Ford said she even felt lucky that she got to help out the turtle.
After lifting him up and over the curb, it didn’t seem to be the right vegetation for the turtle.
“It was not turtle habitat. I think he was confused, disoriented. He wasn’t going anywhere near a place that was a good place to live and be safe.”
So Ford put the turtle in the back of her friends car and drove it to a swampy area near Gage’s Creek where it was released.
“I really hope he’s going to stay off the roads because that’s not the right place for a turtle.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
