Wildlife In The Forecast!

WILDLIFE IN FORECAST!

Hello from Kelly at Think Turtle Conservation Initiative

The unprecedented mild temperatures we are experiencing for this time of the year have potentially put Ontario almost three weeks ahead of schedule is very concerning for the natural community. Expect the unexpected!

Erratic temperature fluctuations and weather patterns can challenge all manner of wildlife emerging from their winter dormancy, and complications of flooding can be an added stress depending on how the winter thaw times out. The seasonal transition from winter to spring is a time to be especially “alert” to wildlife concerns.

We could observe animals we don’t expect to see out and about when it is technically still winter that have been enticed out of their winter dormancy while mild daytime temperatures prevail. Typically, turtles emerge from brumation (hibernation) during April, but the warm temperatures and sunshine must just entice some out early. There is a possibility that last year’s turtle hatchlings that stayed in their nests over the winter, known as overwintering, could stir from their nests and show up early as well.

Although hibernation is an efficient survival strategy for animals to get through a harsh Ontario winter, it is a vulnerable period in an animal’s lifecycle. Coming out of hibernation is a complex process. It takes time for animals to regain their depleted energy stores and regain their metabolism. Wildlife fresh out of hibernation may not be as sure-footed and swift to get off the roads. Turtles and other small animals will cross roads and trails slower than usual. Please be mindful of increased animal activity on or near the roads for your sake and theirs. Remind other motorists in your household and visitors to the area to do the same. Let’s help wildlife get safely through the transition from winter to spring.

Early Turtle Encounters

The following is information on how to help turtles you may encounter on the roads or private or public property. We have included some additional notes at the end of this article should you happen upon wildlife in distress other than turtles. Consider this a reference guide.

(1) False Spring
(2) Injured/Distressed Turtles
(3) Turtles Enticed Out Early
(4) Spring Turtles
(5) Overwintering
(6) Helping Hatchlings
(7) Helping Turtles Across Roads
(8) Road Safety
(9) Turtle Taxi Volunteers
(10) Wildlife in Distress

Typically, we see Ontario’s turtles out and about from April to October. When the turtle season begins and ends depends on the temperatures and weather patterns. This year is one for the books as a result of a strong El Niño event and the progression of climate change which has driven Ontario’s winter and, as predicted, presented milder temperatures and less snow.

(1) False Spring: Each year, the impact climate change is having is more apparent by the increased frequency, duration, and severity of temperature and weather patterns that affect both humans and nature. These concerns include weather anomalies that can present spring-like weather that may consist of a single day or a more extended period during the winter months. The turtles’ response to these false spring-like conditions is a reason for concern.

A few warm days in March is a welcomed break from winter for us, but temperatures above zero can entice some turtles out of brumation and onto the ice-covered bodies of water to bask in the sun sooner than expected. Most turtles will retrace their route back under the ice. The turtles that are unable to do this or that are pre-maturely out of brumation are vulnerable and could be disoriented by a sudden change in temperatures and weather. In such cases, a turtle can end up “cold-stunned” and trapped on the ice. This outcome runs the risk of exposure to weather conditions a turtle would might not be able to survive.

(2) Injured/Distressed Turtles: If you spot a turtle that appears in distress or is injured turtle “no matter where you are in Ontario,” please contact the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) home to Ontario’s Turtle Hospital at 705-741-5000 while you are with the turtle. Their trained staff will assess the situation and determine the best action. The OTCC routinely admits distressed, sickly and injured turtles from all across Ontario. They provide medical care for the turtle species native to Ontario at “no charge.” They will arrange transportation via their network of Turtle Taxi volunteers for the turtle to get to the OTCC or the nearest first responder if you cannot drive the turtle there.

The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is in Peterborough. It is the only wildlife rehabilitation centre dedicated solely to providing medical and rehabilitative care to the turtles native to Ontario. Once treated and rehabilitated, the turtles are released back into their natural habitat at the point of origin.

(3) Turtles Enticed: Should you spot a turtle that has ventured out onto an ice-covered body of water, please take note. In most cases, the turtle is no doubt basking and quite fine. Binoculars can help to determine a turtle’s behavior and well-being. If a turtle spotted appears unresponsive and makes no move to head back into the body of water under the ice, especially with cooler night temperatures or a blast of snowy conditions imminent this concerning.

If a turtle requires help, “PLEASE” do not put yourself in danger by venturing onto a frozen body of water, especially at this time of year when the stability of the ice is unsafe. If a rescue is necessary, contact people in your community who are experienced in such matters. The public resources available in every community are different, so we cannot suggest precisely who to call, but an example might be the local fire department. They may have trained staff or volunteers, as well as the equipment for ice rescues, and will be familiar with the protocols in such emergencies. If not, they may be able to point you in the right direction for assistance in your community.

Should a turtle be rescued and appear lifeless, do not assume the turtle is dead! Turtles can slow down their metabolism to such a degree that they can appear lifeless. Even a fully qualified veterinarian would need an ECG to determine if a turtle has a heartbeat. Please call the OTCC at 705-741-5000 as soon as possible if a turtle is rescued and in a concerning state. Note: The OTCC winter hours are Monday to Friday, 9 – 5 pm, and Saturday, 9 – 3 pm. Please leave a message if after hours.

(4) Spring Turtles: Typically, we expect to see some of last year’s turtle hatchlings that overwintered emerging from their nest in April through May. The milder temperatures could result in some early arrivals.

(5) Overwintering: Each year, most turtle hatchlings emerge from their nest sometime between August and October, but some don’t. As the cooler fall temperatures set in, some turtle hatchlings spend their first winter in their nest or below the nest chamber only a few inches below the frost line. This survival strategy, known as “overwintering,” is used to escape limited food supplies, possible predators, cold temperatures, and harsh winter conditions. This is behavior more typical of Painted, Map, and Blanding’s turtles, but other turtle hatchling species will resort to this survival tactic. The success rate in these cases will vary due to the harsh winter and some turtle species being less resilient under such conditions.

Ice crystals form around the overwintering painted turtles and marginally in them, but a self-generated antifreeze prevents them from an assured death. They remain in a super-cooled state until the spring when the ground thaws and the little turtles emerge from their nest, raring to go. As the snow melts and the ground thaws, please watch for spring turtle arrivals. They could appear on your property, in your garden, in all manner of places, and on the roads.

(6) Helping Hatchlings: Whether spotted in the early spring, late summer, or autumn, turtle hatchlings face the possibility of encounters with many predators. These include wild, domesticated, avian, and aquatic predators. Should you find a hatchling on your property, public property, or the road, you could significantly increase the odds of survival by taking the hatchling to the nearest body of water. Once there, select a spot with plenty of aquatic vegetation that will serve as a protective covering for the little turtle. Place the hatchling at the shallow entry point to enter the water. Turtle hatchlings will spend much of their early years hiding until they have gained some size and girth and are not so vulnerable to predators.

Note: If there are multiple hatchlings to release, spread them around the body of water in shallow water with vegetation. A general guideline is 10 feet apart. This will reduce the chances of predators locating clusters of turtles and increase the number of hatchlings that survive.

(7) Helping Turtles Across Roads: Turtles can be observed crossing roads at any time during turtle season. April to mid-July is a busy time with the spring hatchlings venturing out of their nest, turtles emerging from brumation, migrating to seasonal habitat, males traveling to find mates, females traveling to nest, turtles foraging for food, and times turtles on the move due to a habitat disturbance, or a drought that causes their body of water to dry up, flooding that causes fluctuating water levels and sometimes for reasons only turtles know. Mid-July to the end of August is generally a quieter time, and there are fewer turtle road crossings because it is very hot. September to October is a busy time for turtle road crossings as the hatchlings emerge from their nest and other turtles travel to their winter habitat.

Stopping to assist a turtle across the road if it is safe for you can make the difference between the turtle observed on the road, making it from this turtle season to the next. Should you stop to assist a turtle across the road, always move the turtle in the direction it is headed, even if it makes no sense to you. Turtles are aquatic animals. If a turtle leaves the water, they have a distinct reason for doing so. If you redirect the turtle, it will return to the road, headed to the original destination. This may harm the turtle a second time, and we don’t want that.

For information about safely assisting turtles of all sizes on the road, see our ‘How To Help A Snapping Turtle Across The Road’ post on the Think Turtle WordPress Blog.
https://thinkturtleconservationinitiative.wordpress.com/2021/04/18/assisting-a-turtle-across-the-road/

(8) Road Safety: If you stop to assist a turtle across the road or retrieve an injured turtle, it is imperative to make “SAFETY YOUR #1 PRIORITY!” Do not stop in the middle of the lane. Pull off the road onto the shoulder as far as possible, and put your hazard lights on. If there is no shoulder or the shoulder is too narrow, drive until you find a safe shoulder and safely double back on foot. Be Safe! Please think of your safety, passenger safety, and the other motorists on the road. A high-visibility safety vest is always recommended to have in your vehicle. Please wear gloves when assisting a turtle or use hand sanitizer after handling a turtle if you choose not to wear gloves.

(9) Turtle Taxi Volunteers: During turtle season, April to October, turtles, while going about their routine activities, sometimes end up getting injured. Most often, this results from being struck by a motor vehicle. Other injuries can include getting hooked on a fishing line, being hit by a boat/personal watercraft or propeller, an animal attack (domestic/wild), deliberate harm, land development excavation, road works equipment, construction, or turtle misadventures. Last year, 2023, saw the highest number of injured turtle admissions ever to the OTCC, over 1,900. Thanks to many generous and kind people across Ontario volunteering their time and vehicle, many turtles got to the OTCC for the medical treatment they desperately needed and survived.

The OTCC has a network of “Turtle Taxi Volunteers” across Ontario through which they arrange drives for injured turtles, accidentally unearthed turtle eggs, and occasionally medical supplies. Some drives are more local; others are farther away. Long-distance trips often involve multiple drivers to get the turtle from where it was found to the OTCC.

OTCC is always in need of Turtle Taxi Volunteers from all across Ontario. To be a Turtle Taxi driver, you do not need any previous experience with turtles, but you must have access to a vehicle. The OTCC requires the assistance of citizens who care about the decline in our turtle populations and want to help. Turtles will be transported in enclosed containers. Turtle Taxi drivers do not need to handle the turtles directly.

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please call the non-emergency line at 705-745-7530 or e-mail turtletaxi@ontarioturtle.ca. The OTCC will provide you with the information you need.

(10) Wildlife in Distress: 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

Report sick or dead wildlife (not turtles; report them to OTCC)

Should you find a sick or dead wild animal other than turtles, report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) by phone at 1-866-673-4781 or online at https://cwhc.wildlifesubmissions.org/#/. Reporting sick or dead wild animals to the CWHC helps them monitor diseases in wildlife and keep Ontario’s wildlife healthy.

Rabies: If you suspect a dead wild animal may have had rabies, visit the provincial who to call section on their wildlife page https://www.ontario.ca/page/rabies-wildlife#section-5 or phone 1-888-574-6656 for advice.

Please share this information with family, friends, and associates and ask them to do the same. Thank you. All wildlife, big and small have an essential role in maintaining healthy, functioning ecosystems, which we rely on for the ecological services and goods they provide.

Thank you for contributing to efforts to conserve and protect Ontario’s wildlife.

If you have any turtle-related matters, do not hesitate to contact Think Turtle Conservation Initiative at 647-606-9537 (phone/text). For additional information about helping turtles, check out our website at thinkturtle.ca, follow us on Facebook, and read our WordPress Blog posts.

Warm 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
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