THUNDER BAY — The painted turtle and the snapping turtle, both of which inhabit Northwestern Ontario, are listed as a special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
They are among eight turtle species native to Ontario.
All eight are currently either a special concern, endangered or – in the case of the eastern box turtle – already believed to be wiped out.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to watch carefully this summer for turtles crossing the road.
It says when an adult turtle is killed, it has a significant impact on the population because it takes turtles 20 years to reach sexual maturity.
Their egg survival rate is very low, with only two out of 100 becoming an adult.
Studies show that just a five per cent increase in annual mortality can put an entire population at risk of decline.
This is an active period for the reptiles as they set off from their usual habitats to find mates and nesting sites.
As reptiles, they are cold-blooded, and often bask on gravel, sandy roadsides or warm asphalt.
The NCC issued guidance this week to help members of the public help turtles off the road.
- make sure the road is safe for you to pull over and help
- move the turtle in the direction it was going (otherwise it likely will try to cross again)
- for turtles that hide their heads in their shells (like the painted turtle), simply pick it up, gently holding it with both hands, support its belly and hold the top of its shells similar to holding a hamburger, then carry it across the road while close to the ground
- for snapping turtles (which can't hide their heads in their shells and have a dangerously sharp snout), lift them using the "handles" on either side of their tails on the back of their shells and "wheelbarrow" them across the road on their front legs. Alternatively, they can be carefully slid onto a car mat or shovel and dragged across the road
- once done, back away and leave the turtle alone to avoid increasing stress
- pushing or shoving turtles across the road with your feet or a stick can cause a lot of damage to their undersides
"Turtles help keep wetlands clean. They play the unsung role of wetland janitor, which is important for our drinking water," the NCC said in a statement.
It said turtles help keep wetlands healthy by eating dead plants, insects and animals.
