BLIZZARD WARNING - Blue Mountains - northern Grey click here for details

News

Published May 23, 2022

Turtle deaths prompt CWF awareness campaign on World Turtle Day

CWF and Scales Nature Park Work to Reduce Turtle Deaths on Muskoka Roads
Freshwater turtle via pixabay

With the arrival of World Turtle Day Monday, May 23rd, the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and Scales Nature Park are once again calling on drivers to join the effort to help reduce road mortality affecting Ontario’s at-risk turtle populations.

“Reducing the number of turtles killed on roads is critical to species survival,” said James Pagé, species at risk and
biodiversity specialist with CWF. “Every death of a nesting female is a huge blow to the recovery of turtle
populations because they don’t start reproducing until they’re 10 to 20 years old. We need to stop the carnage
happening on our roads each spring.”


To reduce road mortality rates in areas where turtles are often found on Ontario roads, Pagé suggests exercising
caution is the easiest thing drivers can do to avoid hitting turtles. “We’re asking drivers to slow down near
wetlands to avoid a collision, or even stop when safe to do so and move the turtles across the road,” he said.


In Simcoe-Muskoka, road mortality is the number one cause of death of many species of turtles found in the
region. Since 2013, the Saving Turtles At Risk Today (S.T.A.R.T.) project, a partnership between CWF and Scales
Nature Park, has monitored roads to record and reduce mortality.

More than 2,000 turtles have been found dead on roads in the area over the past few years, with more than 1,500 safely removed off roads in the same period.


Additionally, over 56,000 hatchlings have been released back into the wild since the S.T.A.R.T. project began.


According to S.T.A.R.T. project director Jeff Hathaway, the public can help by calling or texting the S.T.A.R.T. Turtle Hotline, 705-955-4284, when they see turtles in the area. “We’re particularly interested in rare species, nesting females, and any injured or dead turtles. When possible, we’ll send a project team in response to the call.”


Resources to teach drivers how to safely move turtles across the road are available on CWF’s HelpTheTurtles.ca

feature image courtesy of pixabay.com

What do you think of this article?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Have a breaking story?

Share it with us!
Share Your Story

What Barrie's talking about!

From breaking news to the best slice of pizza in town! Get everything Barrie’s talking about delivered right to your inbox every day. Don’t worry, we won’t spam you. We promise :)
Subscription Form
Consent Info

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Related Stories

Advertisement
Advertisement