If you find turtles in a safe place, leave them there. They should not be taken home as "pets."  They want to live free with other turtles and have their own families.

    If you find turtles in a place that isn’t safe, let them go in the woods or in a park nearby. 

    If you have a turtle from a pet shop or some other captive situation, or you know of turtles that need rescuing, contact the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society at 163 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 365, New York, NY 10023. Their phone number is 212-459-4803.  They are not a rescue group, but they have a list of rescuers who can help.

     If you see turtles on their backs at the side of the road, carefully turn them over and put them well away from the traffic.  When moving turtles out of the road, don’t put them in ditches or very rocky places; gently put them on nice flat areas of grass or dirt facing in the same direction they were going.   Long-tailed turtles might be snapping turtles and they can bite. They can be safely moved out of the street with a long-handled shovel but be sure to be very gentle.

     If you find injured or sick turtles, take them immediately to a turtle specialist. Call your local humane society or zoo for the name of a turtle expert near you.