Turtle Nesting Season

Wednesday, 4 June 2014 13:15

UTRCA warns drivers about encounters with turtles on the roads

OXFORD COUNTY -- The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is advising motorists that 2014 turtle nesting season has begun.

With nesting, comes encounters with turtles along roads, in yards and along driveways.

UTRCA Species at Risk Biologist Scott Gillingwater says seven of Ontario's eight turtle species are now listed as "at risk."

"With humans, there are issues with habitat loss, with road mortality, getting caught on hooks, or hit by boats so there are a number of issues affecting them now. So as much as it's unfortunate, it is up to humans to play a part in their survival, because we've definitely played a part in their decline."

With many local turtle species threatened or endangered, Gillingwater says the conservation authority is always interested in turtle sightings.

Gillingwater says you can help by watching for turtles crossing the road and, when it's safe to do so, help them across.

"There's local community members that are concerned about turtles crossing in their area, especially if there are a large number of road kills. If you get a large number of turtles being hit by vehicles, it can drastically effect the viability of a population or the potential of that population to survive in the long term."

Some turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered because of frequent interaction with humans and other predators with even the most common varieties experiencing declines in the province.

Gillingwater says the conservation authority once again wants the public to report any turtle sightings directly to them.

"We're interested in sightings of threatened and endangered turtles species, such as the Spotted Turtle, Spiny Softshell Turtle or Blanding's Turtle, however there are a lot of turtle species in the province, eight different species -- and some may come up to nest in a garden or lawn or laneway."

Gillingwater says if you find a turtle nesting on your property, don't disturb it.

Eggs may take 50-to-90 days to hatch, and some species stay in the nest until the following spring. Many nests are also destroyed by predators, but those which do survive, contribute to increasing or maintaining the turtle population in the area.

All adults are important to local populations. Some turtles in this region may be close to 100 years old, so you really are encountering a piece of history when you meet a turtle along a roadway.

If you see any of these threatened and endangered turtle species, you can contact Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist, by email at: gillingwaters@thamesriver.on.ca -- or call him (519) 451-2800, Ext. 236