Watch for turtles on the move in the County
Administrator | Jun 09, 2015 | Comments 3
With the first heavy rains in June, the Snapping Turtles have returned to Cressy. Bruce Booth shares this photograph noting the turtles’ arrival is two days earlier than last year. “This dear old lady dug three holes in our driveway today looking for the ideal spot,” he said.
The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan reminds motorists that turtles are most often seen in June when they are travelling to their nesting sites.
As herbivores, carnivores and scavengers, turtles play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. Loss of wetland habitat, road mortalities, pollution, collection for the pet trade and for food, and predation threaten Ontario’s turtle populations.
Seven of eight turtle species in Ontario are on the Species at Risk list but YOU can help. The Toronto Zoo has a Turtle Tally program that is designed to:
1. Increase understanding of turtle distribution and ranges
2. Collect information on turtle species and locations, which is useful to identify areas of concern and threats to turtles
3. Learn more about the threats facing turtles in Ontario and around the world. Remember, crossing the road is, generally, a deadly endeavour for turtles. Watch for them and help them cross in the direction they were going, if it is safe to do so.
For information: http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/turtletally.asp
If you find a turtle that has been injured on the road, you can help by calling The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. Always be sure of your own safety before stopping to help an injured animal. Carefully place the injured turtle in a well-ventilated plastic container. Call KTTC at (705)741-5000 for the most current list of drop off locations. You must take the turtle to a drop-off location as soon as possible. For info: http://www.kawarthaturtle.org
Visit Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan
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Filed Under: News from Everywhere Else
Yes The snapper was barely surviving. Sandy Pines cared for it overnight then sent it off to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma centre early Sunday morning. Don’t know yet how it is doing there.
Thank you Paul Wallace. Were you able to find out if this turtle could be saved?
Last Saturday pre-dawn carnage in Cressy. Someone coming out of Cressy on County Rd 7 ran over a huge snapping turtle (shell 13 inches long) cracking its shell wide open. I found it at 9am still alive and transported it to the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre just outside of Napanee. There was no need for this and was most likely intentional. Please be careful. These turtles can live for decades.