The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking that people report all sightings of turtles crossing the road as female turtles begin leaving the water in search of land areas to lay their eggs.
These reports can help protect nests and preserve turtle populations.
"Turtles will soon be moving around to lay their eggs in upland areas, and we need your help to make sure as many of them survive as possible and that their eggs do too," said Andrew Badje, coordinator of the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program for the DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program.
Badje says turtle populations are put at risk from deadly road crossing areas and predators eating their eggs.
Since the DNR started asking citizens to report turtle sightings in 2012, conservation biologists have documented 1,959 turtle crossing locations and 42 that are particularly deadly.
Some species of turtles, such as the wood turtle, take 12 to 20 years to reach reproductive maturity so the death of even a few turtles takes a big toll, according to Badje.
People can report turtle crossings and nest sightings here.
