Peak turtle road crossings happen during the spring in Missouri [Video]

MISSOURI, USA — Missourians will be enjoying the great outdoors in droves as temperatures continue to rise, but they won’t be hitting the road as literally as another member of the animal kingdom.

Box turtles will also be pounding the pavement as they reach peak activity, putting themselves at risk of being hit by cars, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) said. 

“Thousands of box turtles are killed each year by vehicles,” MDC said on its website. “Turtles emerge from their winter burrows and begin to hunt for food and mates during warm and wet conditions, which can lead them to cross roadways, oftentimes resulting in their death.”

Mating season for the turtles usually happens between late April and early July in Missouri. Young males, which make up the largest portion of the travelers, wander as …