Mating Turtles Shut Down JFK Runway

Over 150 turtles slowly crossed an active runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, disrupting air travel and delaying flights. The turtles, known as Diamondback Terrapins have been making their way to a sandy area near Runway 4, on their annual trek to lay their eggs.

With JFK surrounded by wetlands and a nearby bay, it’s the ideal location for the turtles to mate and hatch their progeny. Course, it’s not so ideal for travelers in one of the worlds busiest airports. Fortunately though, the runway the turtles chose for their sojourn of love isn’t used very often during the summer due to weather conditions. But still, several airlines have had flights delayed because of the turtle’s annual trek, which began happening back in 2009.

“This happens every year,” said Port Authority spokeman Ron Marsico. “I guess some years there is more turtle activity.”

Being an annual event, the port authority isn’t just putting air travel on hold and keeping passengers on the tarmac for the time it takes a turtle to cross. They are dispatching staff, with assistance from the US Department of Agriculture, to travel around the runway and give the turtles a lift to the other side.

Passengers don’t seem to mind. In fact, they seem to be following annual love fest with rapt attention. Over 3,000 have alreayd begin tweeting about the turtles and have followed the handle @JFKTurtles on Twitter.

Hat Tip – CNN Travel