Four webbed feet kicked at the open sky as a large freshwater turtle rocked back and forth against the bottom strand of a wire fence.<\/p>\n
Its underside was turned completely upward, exposing its pale shell to the warm summer sun. Right next to it on the crushed gravel shoulder, three smaller turtles sat in a tight row, watching the struggle without moving an inch.<\/p>\n
The fence blocked the steep embankment that led directly into a freshwater pond just a few feet away. Every time the large turtle kicked against the dirt, its shell scraped against the gravel, leaving it wedged firmly on its spine.<\/p>\n
A silver sedan slowed down along the narrow country road and pulled to a stop along the asphalt edge. A man stepped out from the driver side, shut the door, and walked across the shoulder toward the fence line.<\/p>\n
The man slowed his pace as he neared the gravel patch, keeping his footsteps quiet to avoid scattering the smaller animals. He stopped right beside the fence and bent his knees into a low crouch.<\/p>\n
He looked closely at the upside-down shell, checking for any cracks or sharp wire snags catching on the edges. The turtle continued to claw at the air, its neck extended as it tried to reach the dirt below.<\/p>\n
Reaching forward with both hands, the man placed his palms against the curved sides of the shell. He paused for a second to get a firm grip away from the snapping jaws before applying upward pressure.<\/p>\n
With a slow, controlled lift, he raised the heavy turtle off the dirt and turned it right-side up in mid-air.<\/p>\n
The man leaned forward and set the turtle down gently on the patch of green grass facing the pond. He kept his hands lightly resting on the rear of the shell until all four feet touched solid ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you go,\u201d he murmured, gesturing toward the open water. \u201cHead toward the water.\u201d<\/p>\n
The turtle paused on the grass, blinking in the daylight before pushing forward on all four legs. It crawled straight beneath the lowest wire strand of the fence, heading down the bank toward the safety of the pond.<\/p>\n
The three tiny turtles on the gravel shifted their bodies, turning in unison to track the larger one\u2019s path through the grass.<\/p>\n
The man took two steps backward and watched as the trio scrambled over the gravel and slipped under the fence wire right behind the leader.<\/p>\n
The large turtle reached the muddy edge and slid into the shallows with a gentle splash. Ripples spread outward across the green surface as its shell submerged beneath the murky water.<\/p>\n
The three smaller turtles plunged in right behind it, their tiny heads bobbing above the waterline as their feet paddled furiously.<\/p>\n
The four shells glided forward side by side, leaving small bubbling wakes across the calm surface of the pond as they drifted toward the tall reeds on the far bank.<\/p>\n