Wellington County now has a dedicated emergency hotline to assist drivers who encounter turtles on the road. 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 the area.
Previously, many individuals would contact the group’s social media pages about stranded turtles without providing location details. The new hotline prompts callers with specific questions to pinpoint the exact location of the distressed turtle. Nicholls highlighted the hotline’s importance, especially during nesting season when male turtles are most active in May and females in June.
The county is home to primarily snapping turtles and painted turtles, both of which are facing a significant decline in population. Factors such as road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching are contributing to this decline. Snapping turtles are listed as a species at risk in Ontario, categorized as “special concern.” Additionally, Midland and eastern painted turtles are federally labeled as “special concern,” with the loss of 70% of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries cited as a major cause of their decline.
Nicholls stressed the importance of calling the hotline even if a turtle appears deceased or severely injured. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for medical attention, including procedures like pinning and screwing fractured shells. Even in cases where the turtle is deceased, there may still be viable eggs that can be extracted, incubated, and released back into their natural habitat.
The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group’s efforts encompass responding to turtle emergencies, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and reintroducing them to suitable environments. Nicholls also mentioned that the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre operates its own hotline for reporting injured turtles statewide.
For assistance from the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, individuals can contact the hotline at 226-906-7014.