This hub answers our most frequently asked questions. Please navigate to the section that applies to your case and if you don't see your case listed, feel free to call us at 705-854-2888. This guide is constantly being added to, so feel free to check back regularly!
Click on your situation for more information:
I found an injured turtle
Turtles have incredible healing abilities. You should never assume that an injured turtle is a lost cause, because turtles can recuperate from even some of the most catastrophic seeming injuries. Additionally, if female, she may have been carrying eggs that we can collect and incubate so her young can survive. Click through the steps below.
I found a snapper on/around a road:
I found a non-snapper on/around a road
I found a nesting turtle:
For a number of reasons, we cannot consult on exactly what nesting behaviour looks like. However, if you have witnessed a turtle that is moving around in the same spot for quite a while, it may be nesting. Follow one of the below steps:
Can I relocate a snapper?
We understand sharing space with wildlife can be concerning. In the case of snappers, you may even have some misconceptions that cloud the picture, like the myth that a snapping turtle can bite a finger or a toe off. This is simply untrue! In fact, we have several rescued snappers at our headquarters and they cannot even bite through a baby carrot!
Snapping turtles snap because, unlike other turtles, they cannot retract into their shells to protect themselves. The snap is a very reasonable way of protecting themselves instead, and it comes from a place of fear. You'd probably snap too if a large being approached you! They are more likely to snap on land where they are less comfortable and at ease. We have had no instances reported to us of an underwater bite in years of running Turtle Guardians.
We strongly advise that you do not relocate a snapping turtle or any other turtle from your property. In fact, it is prohibited by species-at-risk legislation and can come with large fines because all of Ontario's turtles are species-at-risk. Turtles use various sites like you use rooms in your home. They have one "room" for breeding, another for nesting, another for overwintering, and so on.
Turtles show incredible "site fidelity" which basically means that they return in very close proximity to their sites for the various purposes listed above. In fact, we've seen the same turtles nesting within <0.5km over several years!
For this reason, relocating a turtle means almost certain death for them, as they are effectively imprinted on the various sites in their habitat.
If you experiencing issues with snappers or you want to discuss concerns further, always feel free to reach out to us at turtleguardians@gmail.com or 705-854-1322.
Can a turtle give me a disease?
The only disease a freshwater turtle could potentially give you is salmonella. Anything else is a myth!
That means that touching a turtle if, for example, you're helping it across the road poses a risk akin to preparing chicken in your kitchen!
With that, you can protect yourself with sanitization. Simply sanitize / wash your hands after handling a turtle. You should sanitize / wash your hands before handling a turtle too so you can keep them safe from disease, especially if you just helped another turtle!
Can a snapper bite my finger off?
This is simply untrue! In fact, we have several rescued snappers at our headquarters and they cannot even bite through a baby carrot!
Snapping turtles snap because, unlike other turtles, they cannot retract into their shells to protect themselves. The snap is a very reasonable way of protecting themselves instead, and it comes from a place of fear. You'd probably snap too if a large being approached you! They are more likely to snap on land where they are less comfortable and at ease. We have had no instances reported to us of an underwater bite in years of running Turtle Guardians.
That said, a bite can hurt and its reasonable to want to avoid one. The most likely time you'd experience a bite is due to handling. Turtles want nothing to do with you while you swim, nor are they going to jump out of the bushes and attack you! When handling, be sure to use one of the lifting techniques in this video.
You should only ever lift a snapper to help it out of peril. Interfering with wildlife for any other reason is punishable by law under species-at-risk legislation!