How a Cambridge, Ont. organization is keeping turtles out of trouble
Turtles are on the move this time of year, so it’s not uncommon to come across them in dangerous spots.
“We do, unfortunately, get quite a few calls, especially in the spring, about injured turtles,” said Alissa Fraser, a conservation technician with the Rare Charitable Research Reserve.
The Cambridge, Ont. organization is doing what they can to protect the reptiles across Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
“That’s obviously a very large space. So we depend on community members to actually go out, find the turtles and report them to us,” said Fraser.
Conservation technicians, like Fraser, then go to at-risk areas and collect eggs to incubate them. This year they only have painted turtles and snapping turtles in their care.
“We have a few thousand turtles and I think a few hundred of them started to hatch [Wednesday] morning. So the crew is inside measuring and weighing them and making sure they’re all in their buckets, ready to go and we’ll start releasing them soon,” she said.
If the hatchlings are found in a safe enough place, crews will monitor them where they are and place nest protectors over them.
The public can help too by being mindful of areas that are treacherous to turtles.
“Places like driveways, parking lots, road shoulders, volleyball courts [and] construction sites who dig them out of the excavated soil all the time,” Fraser said.
But beware – you shouldn’t pick up a turtle and move it unless you’re getting them out of harm’s way.
“If one is moving across the road, you don’t want to pick it up and drive it to a pond that is really nice because you don’t know what kind of diseases or parasites you might be moving,” explained Fraser.
Who to call and when?
The Rare Charitable Research Reserve said they don’t deal with injured turtles themselves.
Any injured or dead turtle is dealt with by the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. They can be reached at 705-741-5000.
“If there is a turtle hit, we can take the eggs and sometimes we can still recover them and have hatchlings come out of those eggs,” said Fraser.
The Rare Charitable Research Reserve, meantime, is more focused on prevention and artificially incubating the eggs.
If you see a turtle or eggs in a potentially dangerous area, contact the organization at 519-650-9336.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Woman who died in B.C. jail cell had asked to be taken to hospital twice, report shows
A woman who died from drug toxicity while in a B.C. jail cell asked to be taken to hospital twice in the hours after she was taken into custody in a case the province's police watchdog says again raises concerns over the treatment of intoxicated prisoners.
Why is this village in Quebec facing a 370 per cent property tax hike?
Residents in the small Quebec village of Danford Lake may soon be priced out of their homes, as property valuations and taxes are set to skyrocket.
James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93
James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen — eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, 'The Lion King' and Darth Vader — has died. He was 93.
Romeo Dallaire now recovered from severe infection: CTV News Exclusive
Romeo Dallaire is ready to return to public life again this fall after a serious health scare forced the retired lieutenant-general to postpone his cross-country book tour in March.
Calgary's police chief speaks out against Alberta's anticipated photo radar crackdown
Calgary’s police chief has issued a grave warning about the potential impact of further restrictions on photo radar use in Alberta.
'You can't miss Luke Skywalker': Mark Hamill spotted filming in Manitoba town
Star Wars icon Mark Hamill rode through the streets of Stonewall, Man. last month filming scenes atop what looked to be an Army vehicle for the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King's "The Long Walk."
White Stripes sue Donald Trump over use of 'Seven Nation Army' riff in social media post
The White Stripes sued former U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday in a case that alleges he used their hit song 'Seven Nation Army' without permission in a video posted to social media.
Alberta protesters get 6 1/2-year sentences for roles in Coutts border blockade
One of two men sentenced Monday to 6 1/2 years for firearms violations and mischief at the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., says the time he has already spent behind bars has changed him and his "solemn weapon” is now love.
Gaudreau brothers are mourned by the hockey community, family and friends as 'linemates forever'
She eulogized John Gaudreau through tears that would not be held back, her stories punctuated by sniffles, even an occasional laugh about falling in love with a young man with a mohawk, and the immeasurable heartbreak over a life that ended “way too soon.” Meredith Gaudreau had more to share about her husband than tales of his modest start on ice and rise to NHL stardom — their family of four was soon to become five; she recently revealed to John he would be a father again.