06/09/2026
Happy Wild Turtle Week!
Turtles play a vital role in healthy ecosystems, serving as predators, prey, decomposers, seed dispersers, and even ecosystem engineers. These remarkable reptiles have been roaming the Earth since the age of the dinosaurs, with some fossil records dating back more than 220 million years.
Despite their resilience, turtles are among the most imperiled vertebrates in the world. More than half of the world's 360 turtle species face the threat of extinction. One reason turtle populations are especially vulnerable is that many species take a long time to reach reproductive age. For example, snapping turtles take an average of 17 years to mature. Because of this, every turtle matters—losing even a single adult can have a significant impact on a local population.
You can help protect turtles by:
• Assisting turtles across roads in the direction they are already traveling (when it is safe to do so)
• Avoiding the sharing of sensitive location information for turtles and their nests
• Reporting suspicious or illegal collection activities
• Staying alert for turtles, especially during nesting season
Together, we can help ensure these ancient creatures continue to thrive for generations to come. Be sure to check out the information below to see how turtle life histories compare to those of other wildlife species!
Photo Credit: Tracy Neal/USFWS
