Driving through Wellington County and encountering a turtle on the road? There’s now an emergency hotline available to assist. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group recently launched its own hotline in response to the alarming number of turtle fatalities in the county.
According to Sandy Nicholls, the founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, the county faces a significant need due to its abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles. Nicholls emphasized that the hotline became essential as many individuals would contact the group’s social media platforms regarding stranded turtles without providing a location.
The turtle hotline aims to gather specific details from callers to pinpoint the exact location of the stranded or injured turtle. Nicholls highlighted the hotline’s importance during nesting season, with male turtles being most active in May and females in June.
The county primarily hosts snapping turtles and painted turtles, both of which are experiencing a rapid decline in population. Nicholls shared instances where landowners reported a stark decrease in turtle sightings, attributing this decline to road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching.
In Ontario, snapping turtles are classified as a species at risk and labeled as special concern. Additionally, federally, Midland and eastern painted turtles are also deemed special concern due to habitat loss.
Despite the condition of the turtle, Nicholls urges the public to contact the hotline for assistance. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for medical treatment, including procedures like pinning and screwing to aid in recovery.
Even if a turtle appears deceased, contacting the hotline is crucial, as female turtles may still carry eggs. The conservation center can extract and incubate the eggs before releasing them back into their natural habitat.
The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group is actively involved in responding to turtle emergencies, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and reintroducing them to suitable environments. Nicholls also mentioned the availability of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre hotline for reporting injured turtles across the province.
To reach the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can dial 226-906-7014.