It is with tremendous sorrow that I have learned of the passing of my friend and fellow Democrat columnist Susan Brown Otto. What an amazing lady. She was very passionate about the outdoors, conservation and our rural way of life. I’d like to dedicate this week’s column to her.

We’ve all seen the bumper sticker – I Brake For Turtles. Born out of a need to alert motorists to slow down and avoid crushing these slow-moving reptiles during their nesting migrations that often take them across roadways, Susan lived by those words.

She would often tell us stories before or during Federation meetings of stopping her car on Pucky Huddle Road and other places to help turtles cross safely. One of the few times I’ve ever heard her raise her voice was when speaking about other drivers that would speed along and blow their horns.

So what is the proper procedure to help turtles cross the road? First, avoid swerving sharply. Park your vehicle fully off the side of the road but only if it is safe to do so. Turn on hazard flashers. Help the turtle cross by picking it up firmly by the sides of its shell. Never grab the turtle by its tail or you may break its spine. Use a rolled-up car mat or other improvised tool to help push the turtle if you can’t pick it up.

Always take the turtle across in the direction it was already traveling. Be very careful if trying to help snapping turtles. Above all, do not try to help if it is in a bad area like a sharp turn where someone could get hurt.

The DEC reminds us to not take the turtle home. Do not relocate it to a “safe area”. The turtles are not lost and know their home territories. After helping them cross safely, leave them be.

Thousands of turtles are run over and killed each year by motorists that simply aren’t paying attention. All the 11 native land turtle species in New York are in decline. It takes many years for turtles to reach maturity. The loss of even a single breeding female crossing a road can decimate a local turtle population.

May and June are the months when turtles are nesting, so May 23 is celebrated as World Turtle Day. According to American Tortoise Rescue, these slow-moving gentle reptiles have been around for about 200 million years yet they are rapidly disappearing for many reasons.

So if you ever had the pleasure of meeting Susan Brown Otto, or even if you haven’t, think of her and her smile the next time you see a turtle struggling to cross the road. Treat them like you would a DOT highway worker and “Give ‘Em a Brake”. Help them cross if you can. Susan would.

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!