SHOULDER GRADING

SHOULDER GRADING

The Importance of Responsible Road Maintenance During Turtle Nesting and Hatchling Seasons

As spring approaches, municipalities and townships begin addressing winter's wear and tear on rural roads. This often includes grading road shoulders—a process that levels and reshapes unsealed shoulders to maintain safe and functional roads. However, this seemingly routine task can have devastating consequences for turtles during their nesting season, typically from mid-May to mid-July, with June as the peak and overwintering hatchlings exiting nests. Maintenance work can destroy nests without careful scheduling, severely hindering local turtle populations and species recovery efforts.

While maintaining roads and shoulders is essential, timing these activities is critical. Research and collaboration between The Land Between Charity, Turtle Guardians, and conservation professionals have published a comprehensive guide: Turtle Nests—Road Shoulder Maintenance Best Management Practices. This resource emphasizes how adjusting the timing of road maintenance to align with turtle conservation goals can dramatically improve nest survivorship and overall species recovery. Here is the link: https://www.turtleguardians.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Turtle-Nest-Road-Shoulder-Maintenance-BMP-Guide-for-municipalties.-03.2017-1.pdf

Key Recommendations for Road Maintenance Practices:

Schedule Grading Before or After Nesting Seasons: All municipalities should plan road grading and other shoulder maintenance activities before mid-May or mid-July to minimize and avoid harm to turtles and nests. This ensures minimal disruption to nesting turtles and their eggs.

Avoid Hatchling Season: From mid-August to October, when hatchlings emerge from their nests, road maintenance activities such as grading, grass cutting, and spraying, e.g., calcium chloride, should also be avoided to prevent harm to young turtles.

Consult Conservation Experts: Engaging with conservation organizations or biologists can help municipalities identify critical nesting areas and time their activities appropriately.

Limit Equipment Use Near Wetlands: Maintenance near wetlands, lakes, and other water bodies should be restricted during both nesting and hatchling seasons, except in cases of emergency repairs, such as severe washouts or hazardous drop-offs. In this case, coordinating daily pre-work inspections and having spotters on sites while work is carried out should be arranged to protect at-risk species. 

Educate and Advocate: Sharing best practices and conservation strategies across communities helps raise awareness and supports a united effort to protect vulnerable species.

Municipalities play a crucial role in balancing infrastructure maintenance with biodiversity conservation. By implementing these best practices, you can demonstrate leadership and significantly impact turtle populations. Your actions have the potential to bring about positive change. If your community already prioritizes turtle conservation in its road maintenance schedules, celebrate this progress and encourage neighboring municipalities to follow suit. Conversely, if your area could benefit from these insights, consider sharing the Turtle Nests—Road Shoulder Maintenance Best Management Practices guide with local officials. Your actions can make a difference.

Protecting turtles is not just about preserving a single species—it's about safeguarding the ecosystems that sustain all of us. We are all part of this shared responsibility. Every nest saved contributes to the survival of these ancient and vital creatures, and every action we take brings us closer to a future where wildlife and infrastructure coexist harmoniously. Let's work together as a community to ensure our roads are safe for everyone—humans and turtles alike.

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 for your dedication to protecting Ontario's species at risk and their habitat. Your efforts are truly appreciated and make a significant difference.