Hello from Kelly at Think Turtle Conservation Initiative
We know everyone is super excited about the long weekend. It is a welcomed break and time to have some outdoor fun. Please be mindful of the turtles and other wildlife with whom we share the roads and trails; they will be out and about. The turtles are starting to nest and will be slower crossing roads. While driving slow down and stay alert!
Some tips to help turtles this long weekend and thereafter …
If it is safe to stop and help a turtle cross the road, move the Turtle in the same direction it was headed. Place the Turtle several meters from the road (not on the roadside) so that if startled by the experience, the Turtle does not end up back on the roadway.
If you are uncomfortable handling a turtle but want to help, stand guard as the Turtle crosses the road on its own if it is safe for you to do so.
Please don’t leave an injured turtle behind. A wounded turtle left at the roadside may crawl away and die from injuries sustained. A turtle hit may have internal injuries and, this time of year, the turtle may be a female carrying eggs. Ontario has a turtle hospital! The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) is home to the turtle hospital. It is in Peterborough and admits injured turtles from ‘anywhere’ in Ontario. The OTCC provides medical care at ‘no charge’ and has turtle taxi volunteers to transport injured turtles from anywhere in Ontario if you cannot drive the Turtle to the turtle hospital or the nearest first responder. When you have retrieved the injured Turtle and have it in your possession, call the OTCC at 705-741-5000. The Turtle Taxi Team will answer your questions, ask where the Turtle was found and walk you through what happens next. Once treated and deemed fit, the turtles are released back into their natural habitat at the point of origin.
Be Prepared for turtles needing help. If you will be traveling on highways and interior roads in cottage country, rural communities, the outskirts of urban communities, or ATV trails from April to October, expect to see turtles. Being prepared for turtle encounters will help take the stress off you when and if the time comes. We recommend having the following items in your vehicle during turtle season; a high-visibility safety vest, a pair of gloves, and/or hand sanitizer. If you are uncomfortable handling a turtle, do as many people do and put a snow shovel in your vehicle. The trusty snow shovel gets the job done! Some people use a shovel to gently scoop the Turtle and move it off the road in the direction it was headed. Other people use a shovel to negotiate the Turtle across the road. To be prepared should you encounter an injured turtle, flat pack various size cardboard boxes to put in your trunk. Throw in a roll of duct tape, a tool to make air holes, and a notebook/pen to record the point of location the Turtle was found.
If you find a hatchling please take it to the nearest body of water. Once there, release the hatchling in an area that has a shallow entry point for the hatchling to make its way into the water and there is vegetation that will serve as protective covering. Note: Overwintering hatchlings emerge from their nests April to early June.
A turtle nested on my property, what can I do? In Ontario, you are ‘allowed’ to install a turtle nest protector and encouraged to do so as a contribution to species recovery. Should you observe a turtle nesting on private property you do not own, e.g., a neighbor’s yard, business grounds, etc. or public property, such as a road shoulder, right of way, beach, park, etc., as per property ownership, jurisdiction bylaws, motorists/cyclists/pedestrians safety and liability, turtle nest protectors are ‘NOT’ allowed to be installed. Should you install a nest protector without permission and as a result there was damage to a vehicle or a motorists/pedestrain was injured or worse you would be held responsible and liable. We have instructions for making, using and purchasing a nest protector on WordPress Blog and website.
How To Make A Nest Protector
https://thinkturtleconservationinitiative.wordpress.com/2022/03/30/how-to-make-a-nest-protector/
Where To Buy Turtle Nest Protectors
https://thinkturtleconservationinitiative.wordpress.com/2022/05/20/where-to-buy-turtle-nest-protectors/
Wildlife in distress other then turtles. Should you encounter wildlife other than turtles in Ontario that are sick, injured, or abandoned, please ‘consult’ the Ontario Wildlife Rescue website for the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry (MNRF) licensed wildlife rehabilitator nearest you. An experienced rehabilitator will help you decide what the next steps should be. The Ontario Wildlife Rescue website is an excellent resource when wild animals are in need http://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca
If you have any turtle-related questions, please do not hesitate to ‘PHONE or TEXT’ Think Turtle at 647-606-9537. Please ‘don’t send Facebook messages or e-mails about turtles or nests needing help; we cannot check them while working outdoors. Visit our website at http://www.thinkturtle.ca for information about helping turtles. Follow us on Facebook to keep up on turtle news and happenings.
It would be greatly appreciated if you shared this information to help increase awareness. Thank you for looking out for the turtles and other wildlife.
Have a thoroughly enjoyable long weekend, and be safe.
Best Regards,
Kelly Wallace, Managing Director
Think Turtle Conservation Initiative
Cell/Text: 647-606-9537
E-mail: thinkturtle@yahoo.com
Facebook: thinkturtleci
Username: Wallace Kathleen Kelly
Website: thinkturtle.ca
Facebook Post: #1011
THINK TURTLE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE 