October 8, 2008

Biologist Matt Aresco is working to save thousands of turtles from meeting death as they migrate across Florida's deadliest highway, U.S. Highway 27. (Pet Pulse Photo by Joe Bonner, Design by Mike Lloyd)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Slow and steady doesn't always win the race.

On U.S. Highway 27 in Tallahassee, Fla., wandering turtles don't stand a chance against the 23,000 vehicles that travel on the busy roadway every day.

More than 2,000 turtles never made it across the road last year and some residents are trying to "make things right" in this life or death situation.

"We're the ones who caused the problem with highways and blocking the natural passageways that animals use to get to and from as they migrate between the different lakes and stuff," Lakeside, Fla., resident Pat Wright said.

"So as humans and mankind, we need to to the things to make it right."

Biologist Matt Aresco took that common sentiment and translated it into the creation of the Lake Jackson Eco-passage, which provides a safe path for wildlife.

As part of this, Aresco has also helped build a fence to direct the turtles into a culvert under the road.

Nine-thousand turtles have since avoided untimely deaths.

"Turtles like to nest along the grassy shoulders of the road," Aresco said. "They wander up to lay their eggs and get hammered on the road. This project is going to mitigate that historic mistake of building a road in the wrong place."

John Dailey, a Leon County commissioner, says the project has been widely received and might catch on across the country.

"The federal government and state government has put so much interest in this program as a model to be replicated across the state," he said.

The eventual goal for Aresco and other turtle-advocates is a permanent eco-passage, which would require a significant amount of money and political support.

Aresco has received some backing from the Florida Department of Transportation, but he still requires public support and funds to make his project a priority for the county.

He thinks the money -- and time -- would be well-spent.

"It will facilitate the movement and safe passage of animals under the roadway so they can migrate back and forth without being killed," he said.

A recent drought in North Florida only compounded the "turtle crossing the highway" conundrum. As Lake Jackson dried up, a mass exodus of animals ensued. Many of them were forced onto the highway and killed by passing motorists.

After Lake Jackson, the next most deadly roads for turtles are in Payne's Prairie, Fla., and Mission Valley, Mont. But the discrepancy between the rankings is great.

While Highway 27 claims the lives of more than 2,000 turtles per year, Payne's Prairie counts 93 deaths per year, while Mission Valley annually takes the lives of 85.

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