Striped mud turtles are among Florida’s smallest native freshwater turtles, and fall is one of the best times to understand why they sometimes turn up away from the water.

Adults have shells only about four inches long, with three pale lengthwise stripes that give the species its name.

Those stripes can be faint or even hard to see on some individuals, so the rusty-brown lower shell and two small yellow stripes on each side of the head are also useful clues.

September through November is one of the species’ main nesting periods in Florida.

Females can travel hundreds of feet from a wetland to find suitable nesting ground, which means a tiny turtle crossing a driveway, lawn or road may be on a purposeful trip rather than lost.

A second nesting peak occurs in June, and Florida wildlife managers note that nesting can happen throughout the year.

That is an important difference from the large basking turtles most residents recognize immediately.

Striped mud turtles spend much of their time in shallow ponds, ditches, marshes and other quiet water, including some brackish habitats.

They feed on small aquatic animals and other food they find while moving along the bottom.

If one is crossing a road and assistance can be given safely, help it only in the direction it was already traveling and do not relocate it to another pond.

Most striped mud turtles are not prohibited from take statewide, but the Lower Keys population has special protection.

That local exception is another reason to check current rules before collecting any freshwater turtle rather than assuming a small species is unregulated.

For Wild Suncoast readers, the October takeaway is simple: a tiny turtle far from water may be a nesting female doing exactly what she is supposed to do.

Give the animal room, keep pets away and let it continue its route whenever possible.

The Wild Suncoast clue: a very small turtle with three shell stripes and yellow head stripes points toward the native striped mud turtle.