Driving through Wellington County and encountering a turtle on the road? A new emergency hotline is now accessible for assistance. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group introduced its hotline in August to address the high rate of turtle fatalities in the county.
Sandy Nicholls, the founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, emphasized the necessity of the hotline due to the abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles in Wellington County. Previously, individuals reaching out to the group’s social media pages about stranded turtles often omitted the crucial location information.
The hotline aims to gather specific details about the stranded or injured turtle, particularly vital during the nesting season, with male turtles being most active in May and females in June. The predominant turtle species in Wellington County, namely snapping turtles and painted turtles, are facing a rapid decline. Landowners have reported significant decreases in turtle sightings, attributing this decline to road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching.
Snapping turtles are designated as a species at risk in Ontario and classified as special concern. Midland and eastern painted turtles hold special concern status federally, but not provincially in Ontario. The loss of approximately 70% of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries has contributed to the decline of painted turtles, as per the Government of Canada website.
Even in cases where turtles appear deceased or severely injured, Sandy Nicholls urges the public to contact the hotline. Injured turtles are directed to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for necessary medical care, which may involve procedures like pinning and screwing to aid in their recovery. Additionally, if a deceased female turtle is found, there is a possibility of extracting and incubating any remaining eggs for eventual release back into their natural habitat.
The efforts of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group encompass responding to turtle emergencies, safeguarding nests, collecting hatchlings, and reintroducing them into suitable environments. Nicholls highlighted the availability of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre hotline for reporting injured turtles across Ontario.
For assistance from the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can call 226-906-7014.
