Helping Ontario's Turtles

by Heather Kerrison

Late May and early June represent an important time of the year for turtles in Ontario as it is the peak of nesting season. This means that they leave the safety of the wetlands, creeks, and rivers they call home in search of appropriate nesting sites. In Southern Ontario, no area of land is further than 1.5 km from a roadway which means that this can be a dangerous time for the turtles and the eggs they plan to lay. The biggest threats to the survival of Ontario turtles are roadways and habitat loss. Reptiles, including turtles, account for a large portion of the wildlife killed on Ontario roads annually. Turtles in particular often lay their eggs on the soft substrate found along roads, making it more likely for them to be struck while crossing. A positive of reduced traffic and physical distancing is that they may have a better chance of crossing safely this season. 

Midland painted turtle hatchling (left), and snapping turtle hatchling (right).

Turtles are slow to reach sexual maturity and only have the chance to lay eggs once a year, with those eggs facing ample threat from predation from animals like raccoons and foxes. Losing just one mature adult can significantly impact a population. Ontario has 8 species of turtles; until 2018, the midland painted turtle was the only Ontario turtle species to not yet be listed as a species at risk. When the Committee of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated the species as Special Concern, this made eight Ontario turtle species at risk. This means that all species are at risk if active conservation and protection measure are not put in place immediately.

Concerned citizens and wildlife lovers alike can help make sure that Ontario's turtles safely lay their eggs and make it back to their respective homes. Simply driving with caution during this time of year and paying particular attention to wildlife crossing signs is important. Further, if you see a turtle on a roadway, you can help it cross. It is very important that you always help a turtle across in the direction that they are traveling. They know where they are heading and if you turn them around, they will simply attempt to cross the road the same way again.
 
Some Important Tips for Helping Turtles:

• Never risk your personal safety and be mindful of traffic on roadways.
• Always help turtles in the direction they were traveling.
• If you come across a snapping turtle or spiny softshell turtle, approach with caution as they are more vulnerable on land and can be very defensive;
• To help a snapping turtle cross the road, try getting the turtle to grab onto a sweater or stick and gently lead them across the road. The best method, though, is the "wheelbarrow". Snapping turtles can reach halfway around their shell, so you want to only touch them in the area between their hind legs at the back of their shell. You can put your hands on either side of the tail and gently lift the hind end only and slowly walk them across the road in a wheelbarrow fashion. Watch this video for more information.
• Never lift a turtle by their tail. Turtles have many bones in their tail and they can be hurt or damaged if they are picked up by their tail. 

 
If you find an injured turtle that has already been struck, refer to this Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre page on how to get it to help. It is important to note that even if a female turtle has been struck and may not survive, the eggs she is carrying can be saved and incubated at a care facility. This ensures the young have a chance to hatch and grow the population of the species. Although the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is based in Peterborough, they have over thirty turtle response centres and hundreds of volunteers across Ontario who can organize a transfer to their hospital.
 
Turtles are a precious part of our ecosystems here in Ontario and we can all take steps to help protect them.

About the Author

Heather is passionate about environmental education and mitigating human-wildlife conflict. This is underpinned by a background in Zoology and a Masters of Environmental Studies, with experience working for non-profit organizations, wildlife rehabilitation centres and environmental education organizations. Through this work she has been able to be an environmental educator and to contribute widely to social media educational campaigns. In her spare time, she enjoys photographing birds and running in nature.