Frogs and turtles star in Adopt a Pond presentation

The Athol Hall welcomed a large group of children, parents and grandparents Saturday to learn about frogs and turtles from Crystal Robertson, the Toronto Zoo’s Stewardship Coordinator with the Adopt-A-Pond Program.

“Hands were shooting up all the time during the presentation, with children wanting to ask questions and to tell their own stories about their encounters with these amphibians,” said Barbara Wyatt, of the Friends of East Lake, sponsors of the event with Athol Recreation.

If you must move a small turtle away from a road, pick it up firmly by gripping both sides of the shell. If moving a snapping turtle, use a shovel or a board to push it out of danger. Lift at the back of the shell. Visit here for more http://www.torontozoo.ca/AdoptAPond/

The Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program provides educators, students and community groups with stewardship resources and educational opportunities to protect, restore and conserve wetland habitats and biodiversity.

Adopt-A-Pond has six major off-site initiatives that address wetland conservation issues in Ontario. The Program also runs projects on site at Toronto Zoo to protect and celebrate wetland biodiversity.

The free event also included a hot-dog lunch, and was followed by a visit to the nearby pond to find real-life examples. East Lake and the marshes surrounding it are filled with many species of wildlife, like the leopard frog and painted turtles. Children were taught how to identify local frogs and turtles and how to send their tallies to update the zoo website.

“The weather cooperated and the children came away with a great deal of new information and enthusiasm,” said Wyatt. “The adults were delighted to see them so engaged with everything they learned.”