Turtle Crossing

Due to the heat and having slept late, we didn't take our daily walk until after 6:00 this evening. Eeek! We saw a turtle in the street that would surely be run over. While I guarded the reptile, Signficant Other ran for a tool to move the turtle. He returned with a child's snow shovel, which we scooped the turtle onto for transporation to a safer spot. Right away the turtle deposited a huge amount of urine on the shovel. Glad I wasn't hand carrying it. I put the creature behind the house toward the slough, which ought to be turtle heaven and we resumed the walk. The next thing we see is another turtle, not forty feet away, digging a hole in a public flower bed. Must be laying eggs. Way too close to the street for comfort.

On the walk, I decide to put up a little warning sign for traffic into the circle, something like "watch out for turtles". We will laminate it and put a downloaded photo on it, and hope everyone is careful. Yeah, sure. When we return. Turtle is gone and no eggs are in the hole. She must have gone further into the woods to find a better spot. Smart turtle. I go look for the rescued turtle and he is gone, hopefully toward the slough, water, food and comrades.

We heard an owl hooting in the slough neighborhood all afternoon. Freaked out the birds. Hummingbird came to the feeder but didn't eat. Is my cooking that bad?

We grilled steaks for Father's day, with corn on the cob, green beans and salad. Fresh peaches for dessert. Tasted good.

The turtle was identified as an Eastern Painted Turtle. The group that mows the lawn is oblivious to wildlife. They would mow down a moose if it got in the way. I reported the turtle sighting on the web. Grapeshot tries to be a good citizen.

Slow down. Turtle crossing.