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Splat! Why did the turtle cross the road? If it was female, it was probably looking for a place to nest--a risky behavior that could explain why freshwater turtle populations have become more and more male-heavy in the past several decades. Data from 157 studies of 38,166 turtles reveal that female turtles are more likely than males to jaywalk: 61% of turtle roadkill was female, researchers report online 3 April in Animal Conservation. To restore the gender balance, the authors suggest erecting barriers that would prevent the turtles from taking their chances on the open road. (Photo: Matthew J. Aresco)
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