May 23: World Turtle Day

The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.

Turtle Day is celebrated worldwide in a variety of ways, from dressing up as turtles to saving turtles caught on highways, to research activities.

Here is an Article from the the Washington Post:

Turtles are one of the most charming symbols of America's native wildlife. May 23 has been designated World Turtle Day to bring attention to the needs of these creatures and highlight what we can to do help them survive and thrive.
As interesting as turtles can be to watch, they don't make good pets at home or in the classroom. While turtle and reptile ownership is growing, turtles and other reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria, which can be transmitted to people and cause serious illness or even death. Direct contact with the animal is not necessary to get sick because Salmonella can live on surfaces for days.
Because of the health risks, selling small turtles as pets has been illegal since 1975. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 74,000 people get Salmonella infections from reptiles and amphibians each year, accounting for six percent of Salmonella cases in the United States. Children and the elderly are especially at risk. In addition to the health risks, turtles and other reptiles have specific dietary and habitat needs that most owners cannot meet.
The population of turtles is declining for many reasons, including pollution, building in the places they live, and the large number taken out of the wild to become pets.
What can you do for turtles?
Protect Turtle Habitat. Become active in your local conservation commission or parks and recreation department, and work to preserve turtle habitat.
Don't Pollute or Litter. Pollution makes its way into bodies of water and wild areas, poisoning turtles and destroying their habitats. Reduce the amount of garbage you produce, and dispose of it properly.
Give Turtles a Brake. If you see a turtle crossing a road, gently pick him up by the edge of his shell and carry him across in the direction he was headed. (Be watchful for cars in the process.) If the turtle is a large one, or a snapping turtle, use a stick to nudge him gently across the road without getting too close. Never pick up a turtle by his tail and always wash your hands after handling any turtle.
Enjoy Turtles in the Wild. Never keep wild turtles as pets or buy them from a pet store. Learn to enjoy turtles by observing them in their natural habitat, where they belong. If turtles live in your yard, keep them happy by building a pond and by landscaping with plants that provide protection and food.
Don't Release Pets into the Wild. If you already have a pet turtle that you can no longer take care of, contact your local animal shelter for assistance.
Spread the Word. Educate others about the importance of protecting turtles from commercial exploitation and abuse in your community and throughout the world. Be a voice for turtles.
What has The HSUS done for turtles?
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is spearheading a project to determine whether box turtles can be directed away from potentially lethal road surfaces and to existing culverts by means of fencing. The HSUS was contacted by a concerned citizen living in western Maryland who, over the last few years, had noticed a number of Eastern box turtles killed along a rural road near her home. With the permission of the county roads department, an adjacent state park, and local landowners, The HSUS and a group of volunteers erected fencing to guide turtles to two existing culverts under the road. This was a first-ever attempt and, if successful, could help to save populations of this declining species throughout its range.
"After five weekends of work and hundreds of volunteer hours, 9,000 feet of fencing was staked, stapled and anchored with soil, leaves and rocks to guide box turtles and other wildlife to one of two culverts under the road," said Susan Hagood, wildlife issues specialist for The HSUS. "We hope to determine the effectiveness of the project over the next few months, and in fact, some small mammals are already using the culverts."

Fun Turtle Facts
Turtles have been around since the age of the dinosaurs -- two hundred million years ago.
Some turtles can live for more than a century.
Like birds, turtles have beaks but not teeth.
Some species of turtles that live under water have soft shells and long noses.
Box turtles spend the winter underground, digging further as the weather becomes colder.
Desert tortoises spend the summer underground, but somehow know when rain is approaching and sometimes emerge to dig a shallow hole to catch it.
There are about 250 species of turtles and tortoises, ranging from the tiny three-inch bog turtle of eastern North America to the seven-foot-long, one-ton leatherback sea turtle of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There are freshwater turtles, sea turtles who live in oceans, and tortoises—turtles who live on land.The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization representing more than nine million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.