A new emergency hotline has been established in Wellington County to assist drivers who encounter turtles on the road. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group introduced the hotline in response to the high mortality rate of turtles in the county.
Sandy Nicholls, the founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, emphasized the urgent need for the hotline due to the abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles in Wellington County. Many individuals previously sought help for stranded turtles through social media without specifying their location, prompting the establishment of the hotline to gather crucial information about the turtle’s whereabouts.
The hotline operates by asking specific questions to pinpoint the exact location of stranded or injured turtles, particularly during nesting season when male turtles are most active in May and females in June. The county is primarily home to snapping turtles and painted turtles, both of which are experiencing a significant decline in numbers.
Factors contributing to the decline of these turtle species include road fatalities, habitat destruction, and illegal poaching. Snapping turtles are categorized as a species at risk in Ontario, with special concern status. Additionally, Midland and eastern painted turtles are federally labeled as special concern due to the loss of approximately 70% of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries.
Despite the condition of the turtle, individuals are encouraged to contact the hotline for assistance. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for medical treatment, including the use of pins and screws for injuries. Even if a turtle appears deceased, there may still be viable eggs inside, which can be extracted, incubated, and released back into their natural habitat.
The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group is actively involved in responding to turtle-related calls, safeguarding nests, relocating hatchlings to suitable environments, and collaborating with the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, which operates a provincial hotline for injured turtles.
For assistance, individuals can contact the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline at 226-906-7014.