In Wellington County, motorists encountering turtles on the road now have access to a new emergency hotline for assistance. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group recently introduced this hotline in response to a high number of turtle fatalities within the county.
Founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, Sandy Nicholls, emphasized the pressing need for the hotline due to the abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles in Wellington County. She noted that many individuals previously contacted the group’s social media pages regarding stranded turtles without providing specific locations.
The turtle hotline aims to gather precise information about the location of stranded or injured turtles by asking callers specific questions. Nicholls highlighted the hotline’s critical importance during nesting season, emphasizing the heightened activity of male turtles in May and female turtles in June.
The predominant turtle species in Wellington County, mainly snapping turtles and painted turtles, are facing a rapid decline, according to Nicholls. She recounted instances where landowners observed a significant decrease in turtle populations, attributing the decline to road mortality, habitat destruction, and illegal poaching.
While snapping turtles are listed as a species at risk in Ontario under the special concern category, federally, midland and eastern painted turtles are also classified as special concern. The loss of approximately 70% of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries has contributed to the decline of painted turtles, as reported on the Government of Canada website.
Nicholls urged the public to contact the hotline even if a turtle appears deceased or severely injured. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for necessary medical interventions, which may include procedures like pinning and screwing to mend injuries.
Additionally, Nicholls emphasized that individuals should report deceased turtles, especially females, as they may still carry viable eggs. Extracting and incubating these eggs could potentially contribute to the conservation efforts by releasing the hatchlings back into their natural habitat.
The work of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group involves responding to turtle-related calls, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and releasing them into suitable environments. Nicholls also highlighted the availability of a hotline operated by the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for reporting injured turtles anywhere in Ontario.
To contact the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can dial 226-906-7014.