Awenda naturalists are working hard to help an extremely vulnerable reptile of the testudines order.
The provincial park located along the shores of Georgian Bay is part of Ontario Parks’ Turtle Protection Project, an initiative designed to conserve turtle populations in parks across the province.
“The primary goal of the conservation project is to increase turtle hatchling success by deploying protective nest cages to limit the amount of egg predation by foxes, skunks and raccoons,” Ontario Parks spokesman Dave Hunt tells MidlandToday.
"Taking natural predators and risks into account it is estimated that only two percent of turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood.”
According to Hunt, turtles are symbols of ecological health and have important cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples.
“Unfortunately, turtle populations are shrinking due to low reproductive success and human impacts such as loss of habitat and road mortality. All eight species of Ontario’s turtles are considered species at risk either provincially or federally.”
Hunt notes that turtles take eight to 25 years before they reach the reproductive age and the species’ survival relies on adults laying a large number of eggs over a long lifetime.
"This slow recovery time is why road mortality has such a negative impact on populations," Hunt says. "During the 2022 and 2023 project seasons, a total of 33 and 61 live turtle nests were protected respectively, and the park hopes to continue to expand those numbers this year."
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre lists three turtle species as endangered (wood, spotted and spiny softshell), one as threatened (Blanding's) and four as of special concern (snapping, eastern musk, northern map and Midland painted).
But it's not just park staff who can ensure these little guys and gals get the help they needs.
"Awenda Provincial Park visitors can make a difference by helping protect turtles during their visit," Hunt says, noting park researchers are looking for volunteers who are needed for road and nesting surveys.
Anyone who observes a turtle north of the 16th Concession is asked to contact park staff immediately at (705) 549-2231 ext. 228.
"You can also request a protective cage from park staff if you see a turtle nesting on your property and you live close to the park," Hunt adds.
"For immediate action, every driver can be a Good Samaritan during the turtle nesting season (June-July). Drive cautiously on park roads and please consider helping a turtle across the road when it is safe to do so and move it in the direction it’s heading."
Ontario Parks hosts important turtle research projects, including tracking the survival of Blandings and Wood Turtle hatchlings using radio telemetry.
Other parks have installed ecopassages (wildlife crossings) or turtle fencing at key crossing areas to reduce turtle road mortality.
Ontario Parks staff and researchers have also been using artificial nesting mounds in Algonquin and Presqu’ile provincial parks to provide turtles with safe places to lay their eggs.
