HELP TURTLES IN WINTER
HELP TURTLES IN WINTER
The following are notes we have assembled with an emphasis on 'Helping Ontario's Turtles' during late autumn and through the winter. We hope you find this resource useful and informative this turtle season.
(1) WINTER TURTLE ALERT
(2) TURTLES ENTICED
(3) EDUCATION
(4) MAKE NEST PROTECTORS
(5) REPORT SIGHTINGS
(6) CRAFTING 4 TURTLES
(1) WINTER TURTLE ALERT: One aspect of winter we appreciate is that Ontario's Turtles are safely off the roads for at least 5 months. However, the increasing impact of climate change is a growing concern. The rising frequency, duration, and severity of temperature and weather patterns can lead to spring-like conditions during winter, prompting turtles to emerge from hibernation prematurely, making it necessary to be mindful of unexpected encounters should we experience warm spells through the winter.
Although a warm day during December or any of the winter months is generally regarded as a welcomed break by us, temperatures above zero can entice some turtles out of brumation (hibernation) and onto the ice-covered bodies of water to bask in the sun. Most turtles could retrace their route and return under the ice. The turtles cannot do so, which is the reason for concern. Turtles that are prematurely out of brumation (hibernation) are vulnerable and could easily be disoriented by the temperature dropping and a sudden change in weather. In such cases, a turtle can be 'cold-stunned' and trapped on the ice. This runs the risk of exposure to plummeting nighttime temperatures and weather that a turtle would not be able to survive.
(2) TURTLES ENTICED: Should you spot a turtle that has ventured out onto an ice-covered body of water, please take note. In most cases, the Turtle is no doubt basking and quite fine. 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 or a blast of snowy conditions eminent.
If able to confirm that the Turtle requires help, 'PLEASE 'Only venture out onto a frozen body of water to attempt a turtle rescue if you are sure of the stability of the ice. If you have 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.
When the Turtle is retrieved, it may appear lifeless and be considered dead. Please 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 need 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 get the Turtle to the OTCC or one of the first responders they work with if you cannot drive it to the turtle hospital. Note: The OTCC winter hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week. Please leave a message if after hours.
(3) EDUCATION: Education goes a long way in helping wildlife and their habitat. Any time of the year is a great time to read up about turtles; spending more time indoors during the winter makes it an especially good time to read up on the many ways you can help turtles and learn more about them. A wondrous adventure awaits adults and youth of all ages. Start with the '8' turtle species native to Ontario and move on to global species. Have you ever seen a 'pig-nosed turtle' or seen how fast a 'spiny shell turtle' can move on land?' Take the time to learn how you, individually or with a group, can be instrumental in helping turtles during turtle season.
Winter is a perfect time to check out the Ontario Turtle Conservation Network (OCTN) to see if a turtle conservation group exists in your or neighboring communities. This is an excellent resource set up by the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre and Parks Canada that lists the contact information and other details for an extensive network of individuals and groups across Ontario engaged in turtle conservation and other environmental initiatives. From this, you may find an exciting volunteer, citizen science program, or stewardship opportunity to help turtles, other wildlife, and their habitat. OCTN Website: https://otcn.ca/
Notable mention: If you didn't get time during the spring, summer, or fall to officially report turtle sightings from the previous year, the winter is a perfect time to do that, and well spent. See 'Help Turtles In Summer' for more information.
(4) MAKE A NEST PROTECTOR: By building or purchasing a turtle nest protector and using it, you are making a significant contribution to turtle conservation. For information about constructing a nest protector or purchasing one, visit our webpage http:s://thinkturtle.ca/make-a-nest-protector
(5) REPORT SIGHTINGS: Officially reporting any adult, juvenile, or hatchling turtle sightings, dead or alive, is very important! This enables conservation agencies and wildlife conservation organizations involved in species-at-risk studies to identify and better understand the distribution of the various turtle species and the factors that have an effect on their activities. With access to this type of data and research, they can identify areas that would most benefit from the installation of permanent mitigation measures such as underpasses and fencing, as well as assess the suitability of pre-existing culverts that could be re-worked to serve as an effective mitigation site that enables turtles and other wildlife to travel under the road instead of on it in harm's way. Reporting turtle sightings is a straightforward and user-friendly process. There are several citizen science programs set up for reporting turtle sightings. For more details, go to https://thinkturtle.ca/report-turtle-sightings
(6) CRAFTING 4 TURTLES: Think Turtle launched the 'CRAFTING 4 TURTLES' initiative in 2018 to encourage adults and youth to use their crafts skills and hobbies to help turtles. This initiative is still going strong thanks to the participation of very talented and caring Crafters/Artists. Each year, funds raised through the sale of handcrafted items go towards treating and caring for injured turtles admitted to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), home of Ontario's turtle hospital.
The handcrafted items we receive each year vary. Most often, they are 'turtle' or nature-themed. Some of the items in years past have included a treasure trove of crochet/knit turtles and other animals, turtle potholders, quilts, afghans, felted turtle pins, turtle paintings, jewelry, resin necklaces, key chains, turtle soap, dream catchers, etc.
If you are making handcrafted items for the 'Crafting 4 Turtles' initiative, it would be great if your projects could be completed by the end of June. Note to coincide with when we will be participating in weekly events.: This is an ongoing initiative, meaning we accept handcrafted items year-round. The success of this initiative is based on how many people participate. From July through December, Think Turtle looks to sell handmade items online, through retail outlets, and through scheduled community public events. Should you have questions about making items to donate to the Crafting 4 Turtles initiative, please get in touch. We hope that adults and youths of all ages will view this as a great way to volunteer for a good cause from the comfort of your own home.
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.
