State, federal officials join forces to save Custer State Park turtles
In hiking and biking Custer State Park the past two summers, Shanna Miller noticed a disturbing traffic accident trend near Stockade Lake.
Turtles were creeping across Highway 16A, bound for Bismarck Lake. Tourists sometimes would stop to help the Western painters and occasional snappers. But many times there were no rescuers, and a slow pace and a hard shell does not guarantee protection on the road.
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Miller, a wildlife biological science technician for the Black Hills National Forest, doesn't know how many turtle fatalities there have been. But she found that state park and Department of Transportation officials shared her concerns -- for the turtles and their would-be rescuers, groups that were venturing where they shouldn't be in busy summer traffic.
In hiking and biking Custer State Park the past two summers, Shanna Miller noticed a disturbing traffic accident trend near Stockade Lake.
Turtles were creeping across Highway 16A, bound for Bismarck Lake. Tourists sometimes would stop to help the Western painters and occasional snappers. But many times there were no rescuers, and a slow pace and a hard shell does not guarantee protection on the road.
««««««««»»»»»»»»
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Miller, a wildlife biological science technician for the Black Hills National Forest, doesn't know how many turtle fatalities there have been. But she found that state park and Department of Transportation officials shared her concerns -- for the turtles and their would-be rescuers, groups that were venturing where they shouldn't be in busy summer traffic.
