Look out for the little guys: Caution when mowing encouraged to avoid injuring turtles
Published 7:37 am Monday, June 9, 2025
This yellow bellied slider was injured by a lawn mower in Kitty Hawk and taken to Roanoke Island Animal Clinic for care and repair. Courtesy Dr. Mark Grossman
Dr. Mark Grossman holds a box turtle that was injured by a lawnmower in Nags Head and brought to Roanoke Island Animal Clinic on Monday, June 2, 2025 for treatment. Courtesy Dr. Mark Grossman
This yellow bellied slider was injured by a lawn mower in Grandy and taken to Roanoke Island Animal Clinic for care and repair. Courtesy Dr. Mark Grossman
An injured box turtle that was treated a few months back at Roanoke Island Animal Clinic. Courtesy Dr. Mark Grossman
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With warm weather and increasing lawn care and other outdoor activities, now is a good time to remember to watch out for animals, particularly slow-moving turtles that may not be able to get out of the way in time to avoid injury – or worse.
“We have to watch out for these innocent amazing animals,” said Dr. Mark Grossman of Roanoke Island Animal Clinic, who has recently treated several turtles injured by lawnmowers.
“We see them hit by cars and boats too … Sadly we see too many. And many are injured beyond repair,” Grossman continued. “We also see many breeds, from box turtles, snapping turtles, and red and yellow sliders.”
Grossman reports that the injured turtles are first treated for pain and infection, then fiberglass and epoxy are used to fix their damaged shells. The reptiles typically stay at the clinic for about a week, then they try to release the turtles where they were from.
As for their diet while receiving medical care, Grossman says clinic staff “give them lettuce and tomatoes. But often because of what they’ve been through and that they are in captivity the sliders don’t eat much. We have more success with the box turtles eating for us.”
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