Animal Control Tries to Hatch Eggs of Dead Mother Turtle

This is the time of year when female turtles come out of the water to bury their eggs in nests on dry land, but two snapping turtles didn't make it across the street this week.

One turtle killed by a vehicle on Purdy Hill Road Thursday morning, across from the entrance to Great Hollow Lake, was found by a Public Works employee with its eggs scattered on the road.

"This is the first time in my years that unbroken eggs were found after a turtle was hit," said Animal Control Officer Ed Risko.

Monroe Animal Control has decided to try to help the eggs to hatch.

"We're going to finish the planting for her," Risko said of the dead turtle. "We'll create our nest into a planter behind a closed fence to try to protect it, because out in the open 90% of these nests are destroyed."

In the video with this story, Animal Control Officer Teri LaTulipe creates the nest for the turtle eggs at the animal shelter on Purdy Hill Road.

If the eggs survive, Risko said they will hatch within 80 to 90 days.

A female turtle lays approximately 20 to 40 creamy white, ping-pong ball-sized eggs, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

A snapping turtle's sex is determined by temperature. Eggs maintained at 68 degrees Fahrenheit produce only females, eggs maintained at 70-73 degrees Fahrenheit produce both male and females, and 73-75 degrees Fahrenheit produces only males, the DEEP says.

Risko said snapping turtles come out to bury their eggs in May and June into July. June is Snapping Turtle Month.

Turtles are most likely to come out when the weather is warm and rainy, like Thursday, Risko said.

The other turtle hit by a vehicle this week was a 25-pounder on Barn Hill Road on May 20. Risko said no eggs were found at the scene.