In Wellington County, drivers encountering turtles on the road now have access to a new emergency hotline for assistance. Launched by the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group in August, the hotline aims to address the high mortality rate of turtles in the county.
Sandy Nicholls, the group’s founder, emphasized the urgent need for the hotline due to the abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles in Wellington County. Previously, people would contact the group’s social media pages about stranded turtles without providing specific locations, prompting the establishment of the hotline to gather accurate information.
The hotline operates by asking callers targeted questions to pinpoint the exact location of the stranded or injured turtles, particularly crucial during nesting season when male turtles are most active in May and females in June. The predominant turtle species in the county, mainly snapping turtles and painted turtles, are facing a rapid decline, according to Nicholls.
Factors contributing to the decline include road fatalities, loss of habitats, and illegal poaching. Snapping turtles are listed as a species at risk in Ontario, classified as a special concern. Additionally, federally, Midland and eastern painted turtles are also considered special concern due to the significant loss of wetlands in southern Ontario over the last two centuries.
Nicholls stressed the importance of contacting the hotline even if a turtle appears dead or severely injured. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for necessary medical care, which may involve procedures like using pins and screws for treatment. Even in cases where a deceased turtle is female, there is a possibility of extracting and incubating eggs for conservation purposes.
The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group’s activities include responding to turtle emergencies, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and releasing them into suitable environments. Nicholls highlighted the availability of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre’s hotline for reporting injured turtles anywhere in Ontario.
For assistance from the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can call 226-906-7014.