WATCH: Hamilton Twp Cop Jumps In to Help Turtle Cross the Road

It's turtle nesting season in New Jersey.

From the middle of May into late June or even early July, New Jersey’s turtles are looking for a place to lay their eggs, often a long way from where they live the rest of the year.

That's why we are reminded each year to be 'turtle aware'.

Especially in coastal areas, turtle crossings are an everyday thing at this time of year. I must see two or three turtle crossings a week on the Margate causeway.

That road even has its own turtle patrol.

Hamilton Twp Cop to the Rescue

They don't have the luxury of having a turtle patrol out in the rural parts of Hamilton Township. Police sometimes have to step in to save the day.

That's what happened to Hamilton Township Police Officer Gregory VanGilder this week.

The officer got the call to assist a snapping turtle trying to cross Blueberry Road to get to a nearby swamp.

In a video on the Hamilton Township Police Facebook page, Officer VanGilder jumps right into the bash where the turtle is waiting and grabs it from behind.

The officer then picked up the turtle, told his partner it was a snapping turtle, and he guessed that it had to be 60 years old.

The turtle arrived safely on the other side of the road and presumably continued happily onto the swamp. The Facebook post, the Hamilton Police added, " No Turtles were hurt in the making of this video."

Watch the video...