Helping turtles cross the road, new signs warn drivers to slow down for their slow friends

Residents campaigned for the turtle crossing signs after they saw too many getting hurt crossing the road.



Check out more bizarre animal-crossing signs from all over. Residents campaigned for the turtle crossing signs after they saw too many getting hurt crossing the road.



Check out more bizarre animal-crossing signs from all over. Photo: City Of Missouri Photo: City Of Missouri Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Helping turtles cross the road, new signs warn drivers to slow down for their slow friends 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Missouri City just got a little safer for that slow moving Texas resident, the turtle, after residents campaigned to get signs erected warning motorists to slow down.

It's the second set of turtle crossing signs put up in the city. Both came after requests from citizens to help save their shelled friends as they struggle to outpace traffic on nearby streets.

The latest pair of signs is near the Estates of Silver Ridge at the intersection of Watts Plantation and Diamond Springs Roads.

"We know that a lot of people have taken notice of it, we had a lot of feedback on our Facebook page," said Cory Stottlemyer from Missouri City's communications department. "We're hoping the signs will raise awareness to residents who may not know that there are turtles there."

It was residents who first noticed turtles getting into trouble on their streets. Theresa Tarlton, whose mother lives in the estates of Silver Ridge, wrote to the city with her concern.

"After moving to Missouri City from Houston a couple of years ago, we were dismayed to see the number of turtles hit by oncoming traffic on Watts Plantation Road as they attempted to cross the road," Tarlton's mother Dolores said.

"However, we were wonderfully surprised and encouraged by the city's prompt and enthusiastic response to our suggestion that a turtle crossing caution sign be installed to alert motorists to what is very likely one of the turtles' age-old crossing spots."

The city reports that the Tarltons thought their request would be considered bizarre, but Stottlemyer reassured them they weren't the first to try to help the turtles.

"We have signs in Buffalo Run Park, two in either direction." Stottlemyer said. "We had a business park that's been building across the street from that park; staff noticed a lot of turtles crossing the road and went out and helped them. They loved them."