Spring is here and turtles have started crossing roads as they migrate to their nesting habitats. If you encounter any injured or distressed turtles, a new organization, New Hampshire Turtle Rescue, can assist in their rescue and rehabilitation.

Its clinic in Nottingham is the only facility in New Hampshire licensed to care for the four endanger turtle species in New Hampshire: Blanding's Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Wood Turtle, and Eastern Box Turtle.

These species are slow to mature but live a very long time, leading to their populations relying heavily upon a relatively small number of reproductive individuals. According to New Hampshire Turtle Rescue, major threats to these populations include: car strikes, dog attacks, lawnmowers, and swallowed fishhooks.

The mission at New Hampshire Turtle Rescue is to provide comprehensive care for injured turtles, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into their homes once they are fully recovered.

The organization has an informative website including a Help and Advice section.

If you encounter a turtle crossing the road, simply help it cross in the direction it is heading and do not relocate it. Snapping turtles can be carefully lifted by the very back of their shells while keeping clear of the danger zone to the front and sides of the shell. You can place them onto a car mat or piece of cardboard to drag them out of the road. A snow shovel is also a handy tool to keep in your car at this time of year for this purpose.

Before helping the turtle, use common sense and make sure you help yourself first by pulling off the road, putting your emergency flashers on, and checking for traffic before you exit your vehicle and while you are assisting the turtle.