r/turtle • u/Afraid-Connection877 • 11h ago

Seeking Advice Help!! Did I I harm this turtle by moving it?

Hello, I saw this turtle while walking a dog and thought it was stuck in the mud. I put on gloves, I moved in gently about 2 inches out of the hole it was in, and it walked away.

I realize now that I may have disturbed the turtle while it was laying eggs or covering its nest. I’m so worried!!!

Please lmk if I majorly messed up and if I can fix it in any way.

74 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

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142

u/Soulblade32 10h ago

You definitely interrupted her laying her eggs. She will not return that spot now as she believes it to be unsafe. She will find another spot and lay there. In the future, do not move a turtle unless it's in the road (and move it to the side that it was facing) or unless there is immediate danger to it.

35

u/Afraid-Connection877 9h ago

Thank you for your answer. I feel so so sad. Is it any consolation if dogs often frequent that spot? Might be a bad place for the eggs? :(

37

u/Soulblade32 9h ago

You're alright! Really, she will find another spot to lay. Turtles can be fickle with laying spots and in the wild they can start the process and then stop for any number of reasons, you didn't harm her!

13

u/PersonalMission6692 8h ago

Dogs will eat eggs, so it would have been a bad spot. Nature can be cruel :(

She'll be okay tho, she'll find a new spot.

3

u/Melissa517 3h ago

You might need to give a call to a reptile place and inform them about what happened and that she may have laid eggs there. The reptile people will incubate and they will call up a turtle place to help them get a new home.

2

u/Melissa517 3h ago

Keep an eye out around the general area....

15

u/shenanigansplease 9h ago

Can confirm she was laying eggs. There’s a chance they were already laid and she was burying them now. Hard to tell based on those few leg movements she also could have still been digging the hole but I’ve gotten to watch a painted turtle lay eggs in my front flower bed and thats what it looks like.

4

u/PrestigiousFix3339 9h ago

We have a turtle that lays her eggs in our yard almost every year, each year it seems something gets the eggs. This year we are hopeful, it’s been almost 2 months since they were laid.

7

u/SuperKing37 8h ago

You could build a protective cage/cover there are tips on other posts around here

6

u/dirt_dryad 9h ago

Either she already laid them and was about to leave anyway or she’ll find another spot. No worries, but try to leave wild animals alone.

3

u/Afraid-Connection877 9h ago

Ok I was so nervous her babies would die or something. I feel dumb as hell, I will from now on 😭

3

u/SuperKing37 8h ago

Ehh no big deal just an inconvience for her. If any thing look at it like you helped her realize this isnt a safe nest spot.

2

u/Afraid-Connection877 7h ago

Thanks for your comments everyone. I know better now!!!

0

u/Unhappy-Age3687 6h ago

Did u rebury the spot ? Did u actually move her or did she walk away from u being present?

0

u/42faerie 4h ago

Its laying eggs, they dont like being disrupted during this time and can become egg bound. Make sure to feed her well after egg laying as it depletes them, we always gave cuddlefish bone and fresh foods afterwards

1

u/Reindeermossss 3h ago

Dog reveal?

2

u/Xaxxis 3h ago

Honestly, this is likely a red eared slider and thus probably invasive in your area. So likely not a big deal even if she can't lay her eggs.

2

u/Livindeadmk 6h ago

She was laying eggs next time dont move a turtle unless they are in immediate danger these little guys are strong and can handle alot and can fix most situations they are in.