Next time you see something moving slowly across the highway look closer.

Around this time every year turtles try to cross the highway to get to a body of water so they can lay their eggs, but as Boua Xiong reports, many never make it, and that could spell trouble for the population.

Unlike those chicken jokes about crossing the road to get to the other side, turtles cross roads because they need to.

But not all of them are making it across.

In fact, roadway mortality is believed to be a big factor in the decline in turtle population in the US.

Tim lives close to highway four and says he's seen many turtles killed by cars.

He slows down.

"I think people should do the right thing. I think it's the right thing to do. Turtles they can't speak for themselves so somebody should speak up for them."

While dead animals on highways are nothing new, there is cause for concern.

Some turtles that are considered endangered are among those not making it to the other side.

" If they don't make it, we're not gonna have any more turtles in the future. Cause those females need to lay eggs. And they have very low nest success. Turtles are notorious for being eaten by raccoons and skunks and fox so they don't have a lot of success in nest so we want to make sure that if we can that they have a successful nesting and it means not getting them run over."

So what should you do if you are driving and come across a turtle trying to cross the road?

"Just make sure they get across the road. If it's a real busy road though and there's a lot of traffic, it's best just to pick them up move them in the direction they're going and just try to keep them as low as you can. And just move them over to the shoulder and let them go and they'll usually get on their way."

Though the DNR doesn't have exact numbers on how many turtles die crossing Minnesota roads each spring, they say they'd like drivers drive a little more careful for these creatures.

The DNR says they've received many phone calls about turtles on highways and say if people have any questions or concerns to call their local DNR officials.