In Wellington County, a new emergency hotline has been launched by the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group to assist drivers who encounter turtles on the road. The hotline was established in response to the high mortality rate of turtles in the county, where wetlands and gravel pits are abundant, providing ample habitats for these creatures.
Founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, Sandy Nicholls, highlighted the necessity of the hotline due to previous challenges faced when individuals would report stranded turtles without specifying their location. The hotline now prompts callers with specific questions to accurately pinpoint the location of the distressed turtle, particularly crucial during nesting season, with male turtles being active in May and females in June.
The predominant turtle species in Wellington County, mainly snapping turtles and painted turtles, are facing a rapid decline according to Nicholls. Factors contributing to this decline include road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching. Snapping turtles are listed as a species at risk in Ontario, categorized as special concern.
Although Midland and eastern painted turtles are federally labeled as special concern, they are not designated as such in Ontario. The loss of approximately 70% of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries has significantly impacted painted turtle populations, as per the Government of Canada website.
Nicholls emphasized the importance of contacting the hotline even if a turtle appears deceased or severely injured, as there might still be eggs inside a female turtle. Injured turtles are directed to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for medical treatment, where procedures such as pinning and screwing may be employed to aid in their recovery.
The conservation efforts of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group involve responding to turtle distress calls, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and releasing them into suitable environments. Additionally, a hotline managed by the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is available for reporting injured turtles across Ontario.
To contact the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can dial 226-906-7014.