WELLINGTON COUNTY – As temperatures continue to climb and local wildlife becomes more active, it is important to be mindful and cautious of wildlife crossing local roads – especially turtles.
Freshwater turtles are one of the most endangered groups of animals in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, with one of the main threats being road mortality.
“Over 70 per cent of southern Ontario’s wetlands have been drained or filled or otherwise converted to other uses,” stated the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) website.
“The wetlands that remain are often fragmented by roads.”
Turtles, while known to spend a majority of their time in the water, travel by land in the spring, summer and fall to mate and lay eggs.
All turtle species lay their eggs on dry land and often need to cross roads to get there.
“About half of the turtles hit by cars are adult females on their way to lay eggs,” says the OTCC website.
“June is the height of nesting season, but be sure to keep an eye out for turtles crossing roads anytime between April and November.”
Turtles move slowly, and by adhering to speed limits and looking ahead, drivers can avoid crossing turtles.
If you spot a turtle crossing the road and wish to help it, there are a few safety precautions that should be practiced, for the safety of both the turtle and yourself.
Snapping turtles typically have a long tail and dinosaur like features, they are often larger in size and can be more aggressive. Snapping turtles have an incredibly strong bite force and can easily bite off a finger or severely injure other parts of the body.
When moving an uninjured snapping turtle across the road, try gently coaxing it from behind with a shovel or a board. If you must pick the turtle up by hand, do so by coming behind the turtle and sliding your dominant hand underneath it from under its tail as if you were carrying a tray of drinks and stabilize the tail with your non-dominant hand, without pulling on it.
Snapping turtles have a long neck and can reach the middle of their body so do not grab the turtle by the middle. Also avoid picking the turtle up by the tail, as it can damage its spine.
Other species of turtle, such as the painted turtle, are a bit easier to relocate. These turtles are often smaller and less dinosaur like, and may feature bright colours on their shell or bodies.
To pick up a painted turtle, wrap your hands around the back end of its shell, kind of like you are picking up a hamburger.
While these turtles may not be as aggressive or strong as a snapping turtle, they can still offer a nasty bite, so keep your hands and body away from its mouth.
When handling turtles always wash and sanitize your hands as soon as possible and never eat or touch your face with unsanitized hands.
Also remember to hold any turtle far away from your body when handling to avoid injury and always move them in the direction they were originally heading.
Ontario is home to eight species of freshwater turtles – the common snapping turtle, northern map turtle, spotted turtle, painted turtle, common musk turtle, musk turtles, wood turtles and spiny soft shell turtles. Six of these species have been designated at risk or endangered.
To report an injured turtle call the Ministry of National resources Aylmer-Guelph district office at 519 829 4955, or visit ontario.ca/page/ministry-natural-resources for more reporting information.
