Find a sick or lost turtle? Here's what to do

A news release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) landed in our inbox, explaining what to do if you see a sick turtle.

While it can be confusing to discern what to do when we find a turtle on the road, it's important to distinguish which type of turtle it is first and its condition before you drop it off on land or in the water.

There are instances where you will have to contact a wildlife official.

Some turtles are aquatic species and are recognized by their feet being more paddle-like, designed for swimming. Sometimes they do spend time on land. Gopher tortoises and box turtles have heavier, thicker legs more designed for walking. They cannot swim and will drown if placed in deep water.

What if a turtle is sick?

The FWC is researching a potentially fatal virus in Florida freshwater turtles, called turtle fraservirus 1 (TFV1). A turtle could be infected with TFV1 if it displays any of the following signs:

• Appears sluggish, unresponsive or reluctant to flee.

• Stays in shallow water or beached on banks for prolonged periods of time.

• Head and neck outstretched flat along the ground.

• Sunken, swollen crusty and/or cloudy eyes.

• Reddened skin on head, neck, limbs or bottom of shell.

• Swims irregularly (sideways, in circles or is unable to submerge).

To facilitate this endeavor, the FWC has a new way to report sick, abnormal or dead turtles. The public can fill out an online form at MyFWC.com/TFV1.

The form just asks turtle-finders to answer a few simple questions, provide location information, and upload any photos that help document instances of sick or dead turtles.

Submitted reports are helpful even if the observer is unable to confidently identify the turtle. Observers can indicate on the report form if they approve of the FWC contacting them in the case that follow-up questions arise.

"The FWC has been studying TFV1, formerly known as turtle bunyavirus, since early 2018. The virus has been confirmed in turtles from Brevard, Collier, Indian River, Lake, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Putnam, and Seminole counties, but could be present in additional counties throughout the state," the news release said.

"TFV1 has been detected in softshells, cooters, sliders and snapping turtles. Reports of sick or dead turtles from the public can help the FWC detect TFV1 in other counties more quickly and understand if it infects other species of turtles. To reduce the geographic spread of TFV1 and lessen the potential impacts of this virus, FWC enacted Executive Order #21-19 in 2021, which remains in effect."

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The order prohibits the unpermitted pickup and transport of softshell turtles and yellow-bellied sliders to prevent any human-assisted spread of the virus.

So, turtles should not be captured, transported or released in a new location — even if they appear healthy.

"If road conditions make it safe to do so, Good Samaritans may still help healthy-appearing turtles cross the road in the direction they were headed," the FWC release added.

There is no current evidence to suggest that humans or wildlife other than turtles can be infected with TFV1.

Turtles that appear sick or are dead should be reported to the FWC but not handled. Turtles that are acting strangely or appear unhealthy should not be consumed. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be contacted for care and treatment of sick or injured turtles.

For more information about TFV1, visit MyFWC.com/TFV1.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: FWC launches new online form to enhance turtle disease research