Driving through Wellington County and spotting a turtle on the road? A new emergency hotline is now at your service for assistance. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group recently introduced its hotline in response to a concerning increase in turtle fatalities within the county.
Founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, Sandy Nicholls, emphasized the urgent need for the hotline due to the county’s abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles. She highlighted that previous communication through social media lacked crucial location information when reporting stranded turtles.
The hotline is equipped to gather specific details about the turtle’s location, especially crucial during nesting season when male turtles are most active in May and females in June. Wellington County is home primarily to snapping turtles and painted turtles, both of which are facing a rapid decline in numbers.
Factors contributing to the decline include road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching. Snapping turtles are listed as a species at risk in Ontario, designated as “special concern.” Additionally, federal authorities label midland and eastern painted turtles as “special concern,” attributing their decline to the significant loss of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries.
Injured turtles are directed to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for medical care, including procedures such as using pins and screws for treatment. Even in cases where a turtle appears deceased, individuals are encouraged to contact the hotline as there may still be eggs present, which can be extracted, incubated, and released back into their natural habitat.
The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group’s efforts involve responding to turtle emergencies, safeguarding nests, caring for hatchlings, and reintroducing them into suitable environments. Nicholls highlighted the availability of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre’s hotline for reporting injured turtles across Ontario.
For assistance from the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can dial 226-906-7014.