Burlington announces newly hatched baby turtles, tells bikers to slow down

BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) - People walking and biking in Burlington's South End will have some new - and very tiny - company.

Burlington parks officials wrote on social media that baby snapping turtles have hatched at a nesting site near Lakeside Avenue, in front of co-working space Hula, after three months of incubation. They said that bikers should slow down and keep an eye out while passing through the area.

Snapping turtles when they first hatch are only about an inch long with soft shells, and can be easy prey for raccoons, birds, and snakes.

Officials say that people can help the baby turtles cross towards the beach nearby, but to avoid touching them without gloves or washing your hands first - rather than picking them up, it's best to "play turtle crossing guard" and escort t