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Turtle Guardians

Kids & Communities Helping Ontario's Turtles

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  • About
    • Why Save Turtles?
    • Who are Turtle Guardians?
    • What do Turtle Guardians Do?
      • Level 1 – Turtle ID & Turtle Camp
      • Level 2- Wetland Monitoring and Turtle Nest Protection
      • Level 3 – Road Research, Turtle Tunnels & Conservation
      • Level 4 & 5- Science permits
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      • Parts of a turtle
      • Blanding’s Turtle
      • Map turtle
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    • The Land Between. Ontario’s Turtle Country
  • Turtle Conservation
    • Why Turtles Matter
    • When and Where to Watch For Turtles
    • So you found a turtle…
    • 10 Ways to Help Turtles
    • Deliberate Harm to Turtles and Habitats
    • Helping a turtle across the road
    • Turtle Nesting
    • Snapping turtles & your lake
    • Helping Turtles Around Your Property
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      • T5 Campaign
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      • Turtle ID Quiz
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  • Events Calendar
  • About
    • Why Save Turtles?
    • Who are Turtle Guardians?
    • What do Turtle Guardians Do?
      • Level 1 – Turtle ID & Turtle Camp
      • Level 2- Wetland Monitoring and Turtle Nest Protection
      • Level 3 – Road Research, Turtle Tunnels & Conservation
      • Level 4 & 5- Science permits
      • Become a guardian
    • Partners & supporters
    • Turtle Guardian Program Evaluation
    • The Land Between – Ontario’s Turtle Country
    • Contact
  • Learning Resources
    • Turtle Facts
    • Turtle identification
      • Parts of a turtle
      • Blanding’s Turtle
      • Map turtle
      • Painted turtle
      • Snapping turtle
      • Spiny softshell turtle
      • Spotted turtle
      • Stinkpot turtle/Musk turtle
      • Wood turtle
    • Turtle ID Quiz
    • Turtle Habitats
      • Lakes and Rivers
      • Ponds and Marshes
      • Swamps and Carrs
      • Bogs and Fens
    • School Curriculums
      • Turtle Guardians Curricula Videos
      • Intermediate (Grades 7-8)
      • Junior (Grades 4-6)
      • Primary (K-3) Grades
      • The Turtle Stories Platform
    • Research Reports
      • Habitat Requirements and Biology
    • The Land Between. Ontario’s Turtle Country
  • Turtle Conservation
    • Why Turtles Matter
    • When and Where to Watch For Turtles
    • So you found a turtle…
    • 10 Ways to Help Turtles
    • Deliberate Harm to Turtles and Habitats
    • Helping a turtle across the road
    • Turtle Nesting
    • Snapping turtles & your lake
    • Helping Turtles Around Your Property
    • Turtle Recovery Campaign
      • T5 Campaign
  • Volunteering
    • Become a Turtle Guardian
      • Turtle ID Quiz
    • Turtle Crossing Guards
    • Road Researchers
    • Nest Sitters
    • Wetland Watchers
    • Turtle Tunnel Assessors
    • Turtle Walk 2022
  • Report Sightings
    • Volunteer reporting forms
    • Public Sighting Report Form
  • Turtle Camp 2022
  • Donate
    • Donate
    • T5 Campaign
    • Champion a Turtle
  • Member login
  • Shop
  •  

10 Ways to Help Turtles

1. Watch for Them on Roads

Look out for turtles near natural areas, especially in valleys or near wetlands. Turtles are on the move from May to July and then September to October. They may nest at roadsides in June.

2. Never Relocated a Turtle

They have memorized their territories and cannot readily adjust to new areas. Moving them can result in their death.

3. Help Them Across

They move between habitats in their territory and should not be restricted to one site. If it is safe to do so, move them in the direction they are heading.

4. Don't Leave Them to Suffer

Turtles feel through their shells and can rebound from amazing injuries. If spotting an injured turtle, note the location, retrieve it, place in dry container and call 705-741-5000

5. Never By the Tail

Turtle's tails are part of their spine, and picking them up by the tail can lead to permanent spinal injuries, that may threaten their survival.

6. Never Feed a Turtle

Snapping turtles only snap on land in defense, and only in water when expecting food. Change locations often when fishing and never feed an injured turtle or hatchling.

7. Don't Take Them as Pets

It is illegal to have a native turtle as a pet in Ontario. Also, turtles imprint spatial memories of their territories when very young. They cannot easily "map and remember" essential areas when older.

8. Don't Release Sliders

Red Eared Sliders are sold in pet stores. They are an invasive species in Ontario that can outcompete our turtles and spread diseases too. Instead adopt them out.

9. Report Sightings and Issues

Sightings help us plan ecopassages and track populations. Take photos and record locations and send them to us or use the iNaturalist app. It is illegal to harm or take a turtle. Report these crimes to Crime Stoppers and keep us in the loop

10. Don't Fill or Drain Wetlands

Turtles use wetlands as hibernation and feeding sites, which they return to annually. The features and functions found at these sites cannot be duplicated easily. Destroying wetlands harms turtle populations and other species too.

 

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

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