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    • Threat Mitigation
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    • FAQ
    • Turtle Identification
    • Dapper Snappers
    • Threats to Ontario’s Freshwater Turtles
    • How Old is That Turtle?
  • Educational Tools
    • Level 1 Guardians
    • Turtle Camp
    • Classes, Presentations, Workshops
    • TG Blogs
    • School Curriculums
  • Volunteer
    • Help save turtles!
    • Volunteer Reporting Forms
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  • Report A Sighting
  • Other Ways You Can Help
    • Donate
    • Symbolically “Adopt” A Turtle
    • Turtle Conservation Wish List
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Biologists working with kids and communities to save turtles and protect wetlands

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Turtles are Wildlife Heroes

About 70% of fish and wildlife across Eastern North America depend on freshwater turtles to clean water, cycle nutrients, and spread seeds & biodiversity. However 75% of the world's turtles are in jeopardy of becoming extinct and all of Canada's are listed as Species at Risk.

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Turtle Guardians are Frontliners

Turtle Guardians supports kids and communities in saving turtles and conserving wetlands. Our work is about preventing declines and developing skills and knowledge through research, volunteerism, and education.

Who are Turtle Guardians?
They are people like you and me!

Learn More

What We Do:

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Research

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Mitigation

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Volunteering

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Guidance

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Education

Did you find a turtle?

Basking, nesting, injured, hatchlings, or simply questions? Check out our links to help you help turtles stay safe, wild and free!

Our Turtle Textline: 705-854-2888

Open from 7am to 11pm EST each day

Report a Sighting Here
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Latest News:

Advanced Learning for Adults

Advanced training for turtle-enthusiasts! Learn about turtle evolution, biology, and unique behaviours. Learn how to help them, handle them and understand them better. Join us for a short course in herpetology at the new centre. May 19th at 5pm.

Register Here

Opening May 20th!

Come visit the new home of Levi, Jeremiah, Nimkii, Timothy and the rest of the gang. Starting May 20th we will be open for tours from Tuesday to Saturday each week! Buy turtley cool gifts.  Meet us downtown Haliburton at 235 Highland Street (next to Pet Value).

Tour Times

Summer Camp Registration is Open

The long awaited 2025 camp schedule is here. Kids connect to nature and wildlife!

This year, your child can take Level 1 and 2 camps.

Introducing too, our new Land Between Fish and Wildlife Camps!

Register while spaces last

Now Kids Can Learn Online

Kids can learn all about turtle identification, behaviour, threats, and also how to help....online!  They can earn their Level 1 Turtle Guardian ID card, thanks to our former Education Leader Grace Wiley. Check this out!

Become a Level 1 Guardian

Keep in Touch!

Learn about turtle biology and behaviour, meet turtle-heroes and our teaching turtles, and keep up with our events.

Keep in touch through our social channels:

  • Facebook
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  • TikTok

Or sign-up to receive our newsletter, Snapshots:

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Events and Offerings

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How to Help Us Help Turtles

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Shop our store

We have tons of turtle and nature-themed gifts for every age and price point! All proceeds from our Gift Shop directly supports our work to save turtles. Check out our store by clicking the Shop Now button!

 Shop for Kids | Shop for Adults

Shop Now
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Volunteer This Summer

Learn new skills, interact with nature, make new friends, and help save turtles in your community. There are many ways to help. Volunteers can choose their level of commitment, from casual to becoming a Chapter Leader.

Register
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Make a symbolic adoption

Purchase our official symbolic Adoption Kit for the turtle lover in your life for just $35! A digital option, which includes a printable version of the certificate only, is also available for $15. Please note that adoptions are symbolic only - you'll receive the kit in return for your support, not an actual turtle!

Adopt
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Make a dedicated donation

Donations help us conduct research, design and install ecopassages, teach kids, headstart hatchlings, and care for our turtles-in-residence.  Now too, you can now dedicate a donation! Make a donation in their name and send them a custom e-card to notify them! All adoptions are receipted, as we are part of a nationally registered charity!

Donate Now

Our Impact

At Turtle Guardians, we provide education, conduct research, rescue turtles on roads, and implement mitigation solutions. We also rescue, incubate and release turtle hatchlings under special permits. This practice, also known as "headstarting", increases odds of survival and helps bolster turtle populations.

Note: All research including turtle measurements, incubation and releases, and tunnel system installations are done under wildlife permits and with authorizations.

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Crossing Signs and Billboards
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Road Infrastructure and Nest Mound Projects
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Turtles Saved and Measured Across 5 Counties
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Hatchlings Incubated and Released
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Volunteers Trained Across Eastern Canada & the USA
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Kids Educated in Conservation

Educational Blogs

Grace’s Farewell Letter

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Turtles With Jobs

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Butt-Breathers and Frogsicles: Overwintering Herpetofauna at their Northern Range Limit

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Pheromones & Juvenile Turtles – Scent Trailing

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Why I Shouldn’t Relocate This Turtle…

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What Determines the Sex of a Turtle?

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Reproductive Ecology of Freshwater Turtles in Ontario

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Trials and Innovations -Testing Turtle Tunnels in The Land Between

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The Loyalty of Turtles to Their Routes

Wetland Conservation

The Overwintering Struggles of Freshwater Turtles in Ontario

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How Hibernation Wetlands Stabilize Turtle Populations.

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Heading for Hibernation- How Turtles Survive

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When and Where to Expect Turtles on Roads

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Turtles Know Where They are Going

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Looking Out For Turtles and Wildlife on Roads

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What Kind of Turtle Are You?

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Wetlands of The Land Between Part 2: Marshes and Swamps

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Wetlands of The Land Between Part 1: Bogs, Fens and The Turtles Found There

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Effects of Watercross on Widlife…and Turtles. A post by Think Turtle

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The Scoop on Turtles and Salmonella- Can Turtles Make You Sick?

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What You Leave Behind Matters…Even if You Are a Turtle!

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Turtles – the Earth’s Biodiversity Heroes

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Should We Stay or Should We Go Now? A Painted Turtle Hatchling Dilemma

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Wrapped in Plastic. The Global Problem and How You Can Help

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Mr. Misunderstood. Snapping Turtles are Not so Scary and Very Important

Grace's Story

The Sad Story of Saving Grace

Grace, the one-eyed, and oldest recorded female snapping turtle in Ontario’s Highlands was found- deceased in July 2023. Her story began as a celebrated and recognized icon in the small village of Haliburton. The difficulty ensued in January 2022 when her hibernation site, an Environmentally Protected wetland was filled, in part due to a lack of local protections. Of all parts of a turtle's territory, it is the hibernation sites that they are most loyal to because of their unique features allowing for safe overwintering. The story culminated in Grace's remains being found but not where one would expect. Her bones were in an entirely different watershed, in a place and a time where Grace would not have ventured of her own volition. And after worldwide concern and over 125,000 signatures, the municipality and province are fumbling... Read more...

Read Grace's Story
Sign our petition_ in the name of Grace

Visit us in person!

Turtle Guardians headquarters is located at 235 Highland St. Lower, Haliburton. We are open from May to February from Tuesday to Saturday 10-6pm. We also offer off-site workshops and events!

Book a Tour or Other On-site Event

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Contact Turtle Guardians by calling 705-457-1222 or texting 705-854-2888

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