What We Do:
Research
Mitigation
Volunteering
Guidance
Education
Events and Offerings
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
Latest News:
How to Help Us Help Turtles
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!
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.
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!
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!
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:
Or sign-up to receive our newsletter, Snapshots:
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.
Educational Blogs
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...
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!