HELPING TURTLES IN SPRING
HELP TURTLES IN SPRING
Why do turtles need help? Paleontologists still debate how long turtles have had an earthly presence. Fossil evidence puts it at 200 million years; some research suggests more. Such resilience makes it all the more challenging to comprehend that, at present, the turtles in Ontario are a species at risk. Turtle populations are declining mainly due to habitat loss, road mortality, and poaching. Making up for these losses is compounded by the fact that, unlike many animal species, turtles are very slow to repopulate. Species such as Snapping Turtles and Blanding Turtles can take 17 to 20 years to reach sexual maturity. It can take as many as 60 years to replace one deceased adult turtle. In addition, the survival rate for turtle eggs and hatchlings is less than 1%.
The great news is that each of us, through 'grassroots' conservation efforts, can be instrumental in helping protect Ontario's turtles from the threat of extinction by engaging in citizen science and stewardship practices. You do not need a biology degree or be an undergraduate student to help turtles effectively. Citizens who care about the decline in turtle populations and want to help can accomplish so much and learn as they go.
SPRING NOTES
The following are notes we have assembled with an emphasis on 'Helping Ontario's Turtles' during the transition from winter to spring. Some of the information is general and applies to helping turtles throughout the entire turtle season, April - October. We have set up this resource so you can easily read the subject matter that interests you or all the information. We hope you find this resource useful and informative this turtle season.
(1) TURTLE SEASON
(2) SPRING THAW/FLOODING
(3) SPRING HATCHLINGS
(4) RELEASING HATCHLINGS
(5) ASSISTED ROAD CROSSINGS
(6) ROAD SAFETY
(7) INJURED TURTLES
(8) TURTLE TAXI
(9) SPREAD THE WORD
(1) TURTLE SEASON: Typically, you can expect to see Ontario's turtles out and about from April to October. When turtle season begins and ends, it depends on temperatures and weather patterns. During April, turtles will emerge from brumation (hibernation).
(2) SPRING THAW/FLOODING: As a precaution, should the spring thaw, flooding, and erratic weather patterns occur in the early weeks of spring in your community, keep an eye out for turtles that may be in distress having been disturbed and/or sweep up in turbulent thawing conditions. Especially as cooler nighttime temperatures and a sudden blast of winter weather cannot be dismissed during the transition from winter to spring. Binoculars can help to determine a turtle's behavior and well-being. This is concerning if a turtle spotted appears unresponsive and makes no move to head back into the body of water under the ice, especially with cooler night temperatures and/or a blast of snowy conditions eminent.
If able to confirm that the turtle needs help, 'PLEASE 'Only venture out onto a seemingly frozen body of water to attempt a turtle rescue if you are sure of the stability of the ice. Any doubts, do not put yourself in danger! If a rescue is necessary, contact people in your community who are experienced in such matters. The public resources available in every community are different, so we cannot suggest precisely who to call, but an example might be the local fire department. They may have trained staff or volunteers, as well as the equipment for ice rescues, and will be familiar with the protocols in such emergencies. If not, they may be able to point you in the right direction for assistance in your community. Note: Should you spot a pet or animal that has gone through the ice, the same safety precautions apply, and we recommend contacting the local fire department for assistance.
When the turtle is retrieved, it may appear lifeless and be considered dead. Do not assume the turtle is dead! Turtles can slow down their metabolism to such a degree that they can appear lifeless. Under such circumstances, even a fully qualified veterinarian would find it necessary to use an ECG to determine if a turtle has a heartbeat. Please call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Center home to Ontario's turtle hospital at 705-741-5000 as soon as possible if a turtle is rescued. The OTCC provides medical attention to the turtle species native to Ontario at no charge and can arrange transportation to the OTCC or one of the first responders they work with if you cannot drive it to the turtle hospital. Note: The OTCC operational hours vary each season but are open 7 days a week. Please leave a message if no one answers the phone or if calling after hours.
NOTABLE MENTION: After the snow has receded, it is a great time to initiate or participate in a spring clean-up. Just like us, turtles and other wildlife need a clean and healthy environment to thrive.
(3) SPRING HATCHLINGS: Expect to see some of last year's turtle hatchlings emerging from their nest in April through to May. Each year, most turtle hatchlings emerge from their nest sometime between August and October, but some don't. As the cooler fall temperatures set in, some turtle hatchlings spend their first winter in their nest or below the nest chamber only a few inches below the frost line. This survival strategy, 'overwintering,' is used to escape limited food supplies, possible predators, cold temperatures, and harsh winter conditions. This behavior is typical of Painted and Map turtles, but other turtle hatchling species will resort to this survival tactic. The success rate in these cases will vary due to the harsh winter and some turtle species needing to be more resilient under such conditions.
Ice crystals form around the overwintering painted turtles and marginally in them, but a self-generated type of antifreeze prevents them from being assured of death. They remain in a super-cooled state until the spring when the ground thaws and the little turtles emerge from their nest, raring to go. As the snow melts and the ground thaws, please watch for spring turtle arrivals. They could appear on your property, in your garden, in all manner of places, and on the roads.
(4) HELPING HATCHLINGS: Hatchlings, whether spotted in the early spring, late summer, or autumn, face the possibility of encounters with many predators. These include wild, domesticated, avian, and aquatic predators. Should you find a hatchling on your property, public property, or the road, you could significantly increase the odds of survival by taking the hatchling to the nearest body of water in the direction the hatchling was headed. Once there, the hatchlings are released into an area with a shallow entry point for the hatchling to enter the water, and vegetation will serve as a protective covering for the little turtles. The little hatchlings will spend much of their early years hiding until they have gained some size and girth and are not so vulnerable to predators.
Note: If there are multiple hatchlings to release, spread them around the body of water in shallow water with vegetation. A general guideline is 10 feet apart. This will reduce the chances of predators locating clusters of turtles and increase the number of hatchlings that survive.
(5) ASSISTED ROAD CROSSINGS: Turtles can be observed crossing roads at any time during turtle season. April to mid-July is a busy time with the spring hatchlings showing up, turtles emerging from hibernation, turtles traveling to find mates, the females looking to nest, turtles foraging for food, moving to seasonal habitat, and times turtles travel in response to a habitat disturbance, or a drought that causes their body of water to dry up, flooding that causes fluctuating water levels and sometimes reasons only turtles know. Mid-July to the end of August is generally quieter, and there are fewer turtle road crossings because it is sweltering. September to October is a busy time for turtle road crossings as the hatchlings emerge from their nest and other turtles travel to their winter habitat.
Stopping to assist a turtle across the road if it is safe for you can make the difference between the turtle observed on the road, making it from this turtle season to the next. Should you stop to assist a turtle across the road, always move the turtle in the direction it is headed, even if it makes no sense to you. Turtles are aquatic animals. If a turtle leaves the water, they have a distinct reason for doing so. If you redirect the turtle, it will return to the road and head to its original destination. This may harm the turtle a second time, and we don't want that.
See our 'How To Help A Snapping Turtle Across The Road' post on the Think Turtle WordPress Blog for information about safely assisting turtles of all sizes across the road.
(6) ROAD SAFETY: If you stop to assist a turtle across the road or retrieve an injured turtle, it is imperative to make sure that you make 'SAFETY YOUR #1 PRIORITY!' Do not stop in the middle of the lane. Pull off the road onto the shoulder as far as possible, and put your hazard lights on. Be Safe! Please think of your safety, passenger safety, and the other motorists on the road. A high-visibility safety vest is recommended for your vehicle at all times. Please wear gloves when assisting a turtle or use hand sanitizer after handling a turtle if you choose not to wear gloves.
(7) INJURED TURTLES: Did you know Ontario has a turtle hospital? If you find an injured turtle 'no matter where you are in Ontario, ' you can help the turtle get the medical attention it desperately needs to survive. When you have safely retrieved the injured turtle and have the turtle in your possession, please call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) home to Ontario's Turtle Hospital at 705-741-5000. Their trained staff will assess the situation and determine the best action. The OTCC provides medical care at 'no charge' and has turtle taxi volunteers to assist with transportation from anywhere in Ontario if you cannot drive the turtle there.
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is in Peterborough and is the 'ONLY' wildlife rehabilitation center dedicated solely to providing medical and rehabilitative care to the turtle species native to Ontario. Once treated and rehabilitated, the turtles are released back into their natural habitat at the point of origin.
(8) TURTLE TAXI: During turtle season, April to October, turtles, while going about their routine activities, sometimes end up getting injured. Most often, this results from being struck by a motor vehicle. Other injuries can include getting hooked on a fishing line, being hit by a boat/personal watercraft or propeller, an animal attack (domestic/wild), deliberate harm, land development excavation, road works equipment, construction, or turtle misadventures. This year, 2024 saw the highest number of injured turtle admissions to the OTCC, over '2,300'. Thanks to many generous and kind people across Ontario volunteering their time and vehicle, many turtles got to the OTCC for the medical treatment they desperately needed and survived.
The OTCC has a network of 'Turtle Taxi Volunteers' across Ontario through which they arrange drives for injured turtles, accidentally unearthed turtle eggs, and occasionally medical supplies. Some drives are more local; others are farther away. Long-distance trips often involve multiple drivers to get the turtle from where it was found to the OTCC.
OTCC is always in need of Turtle Taxi Volunteers from all across Ontario. To be a Turtle Taxi driver, you do not need any previous experience with turtles, but you must have access to a vehicle. The OTCC requires the assistance of citizens who care about the decline in our turtle populations and want to help. Turtles will be transported in enclosed containers. Turtle Taxi drivers do not need to handle the turtles directly.
If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please e-mail volunteer@ontarioturtle.ca. The OTCC will provide you with the information you need.
(9) SPREAD THE WORD: Any time of the year is a great time to increase awareness. There are many different ways to increase consideration and conversation that could help species at risk. Some of these include installing a turtle awareness sign where permitted on your property, putting a turtle awareness bumper sticker or car magnet on your vehicle, purchase an awareness t-shirt or hat to help spread the word. Share a turtle awareness post on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms. If seen by the right person, those above could make the difference between a turtle getting help. The more people understand the role biodiversity and ecosystems have in our daily lives and the importance of protecting the ecological services they provide, the better the chances of helping turtles and other vulnerable wildlife species and their habitat.
POINT TO NOTE: Ontario turtles typically nest from mid-May to mid-July. June is the 'peak' month for nesting, and turtle road crossings will increase significantly during this period.
If you have any questions or concerns about a turtle or nest, please phone or text Think Turtle Conservation Initiative at 647-606-9537 when you are with the turtle or nest. For additional information about helping turtles, we have a variety of platforms for you to choose from—check out our other web pages at www.thinkturtle.ca, follow us on Facebook, or read our WordPress Blog posts at https://thinkturtleconservationinitiative.wordpress.com.
Thank you for being a friend to the turtles and helping protect Ontario's species at risk, and their habitat.
