Post by World Resources Institute

🐢 Meet Feisty, the Eastern Box Turtle who commuted to WRI for a day. On his way to the office, our Managing Director & Executive Vice President of Programs, Craig Hanson, spotted a box turtle attempting to cross a busy, fast-moving road. Craig stopped traffic long enough to bring the turtle safely to his car — but with no safe way to release him nearby, the two made an unexpected detour together: a ride on the MARC train and a tour of the DC office, complete with new colleagues and, more importantly, snacks. On the return home, Craig returned Feisty to the exact spot where they met — this time on the other side of the road, pointed toward the woods and back on his original route. After all, Feisty clearly had somewhere important to be. Here's Craig on his shelled companion: "I gave him the name Feisty because this guy moved around a lot. Sometimes I save turtles, and they clam up and stay in their shells — but he was ready to move the whole time. My guess is he's around 10 years old, and I'm hoping he lives a long, good life, as box turtles can in the woods of Maryland. I'm an amateur herpetologist, but I love reptiles and amphibians, and I do this from time to time when I see a hapless animal trying to cross the road." 🚸 A reminder for drivers: it's nesting and mating season across much of the Northeast, which means turtles are on the move. Watch for "turtle crossing" signs and drive carefully near water and wooded areas. If you help a turtle cross, always move it in the direction it was heading. Safe travels, Feisty — wherever you're headed🐢