What’s Your Favorite Ocean County Wildlife?

I was walking my dog the other day when I was surprised by the object that you see in the photo above. At first I thought that someone had put a large rock in the middle of the grass, but upon closer inspection I realized what it was pretty quickly:

That's right, a pretty hefty box turtle had decided to make the lawn its home.

Now I should mention, I am in full support of not disturbing wildlife. But this one needed a helping hand.

Not only was it in an area where it could be stepped on by the many adults and kids who regularly walk and run through that particular part of the neighborhood, but it was also somewhat precariously close to one of the neighborhood's recycling dumpsters.

All that would have to happen for the little guy (or girl) to be crushed, would be for the recycle truck to pick up the dumpster and put it down a few inches to the left.

Thankfully, my neighborhood has a number of ponds and streams, so I relocated the critter to a more appropriate area. And yes, I thoroughly washed my hands after.

As I've mentioned a number of times, I spent most of my childhood and early adulthood at a summer camp, so coming across animals that I don't always see in my every day travels is a treat. I know that my neighborhood has plenty of turtles and frogs, but it's still fun to find the elusive creatures from time to time.

What are some of your favorite local wildlife visitors? Comment below and let us know!