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Turtle Guardians

Kids & Communities Helping Ontario's Turtles

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  • About
    • Why Saving Turtles is Important?
    • What is a Turtle Guardian?
    • Become a guardian
    • Partners & supporters
    • The Land Between – Ontario’s Turtle Country
    • Contact
  • What is a Turtle Guardian?
    • 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
  • Volunteering
    • Become a Turtle Guardian
    • Road Researchers
      • Road Researchers Registration
      • Road Researcher Workshops
      • Road Researcher Tools and Reporting
    • Nest Sitters
      • Nest Sitters Registration
      • Nest Sitters Workshops
      • Turtle Nest Sitters Training and Reporting Forms
    • Wetland Watchers
      • Wetland Watcher Registration
      • Wetland Watcher Workshops
      • Wetland Watcher Protocols and Reporting
    • Turtle Tunnel Assessors
      • Turtle Tunnel Assessor Registration Form
      • Turtle Tunnel Workshops
      • Turtle Tunnel Assessment
    • Turtle Walk 2021
  • Turtle Conservation
    • Why Saving Turtles is Important?
    • So you found a turtle…
    • Helping a turtle across the road
    • Turtle Nesting
    • Snapping turtles & your lake
    • Helping Turtles Around Your Property
    • Turtle Recovery Campaign
      • T5 Campaign
  • 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 Habitats
      • Lakes and Rivers
      • Ponds and Marshes
      • Swamps and Carrs
      • Bogs and Fens
    • School Curriculums
      • Intermediate (Grades 7-10)
      • Junior (Grades 4-6)
      • Primary (K-3) Grades
    • Research Reports
      • Habitat Requirements and Biology
    • The Land Between. Ontario’s Turtle Country
  • Why Saving Turtles is Important?
  • Donate
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  • Become a Turtle Guardian
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Turtle Facts

Turtle Factsspotted-resized

Range:

There are 8 species of turtles in Ontario. In the Land Between bioregion across central Ontario, we have 7 of the 8 species...and all species are listed federally as species at risk, which means that their populations are declining rapidly.

The Land Between bioregion is home to more than 1/3 of Ontario's entire turtle population. See our turtle country page for maps

Biology, Threats & Behaviour

Turtles love to eat dead and decaying things that are found at the bottom of ponds, lakes and wetlands- they help keep the water clean.

Snapping Turtles are very comfortable in water and typically only snap on land as they don't have an under-shell (pastron) so they cannot hide in their shells like other turtles. In water only 4 accounts have been recorded of them snapping, 3 when they have been kicked, and the 4th was because the turtle had been continually fed by humans and began to unnaturally associate humans with food.

Snapping turtles are the best scavengers, are fast swimmers, and are surprisingly gentle and curious when in the water.

Turtles are reptiles and ectothermic so their body temperature is the same as the environment that they are in.

Turtles are remarkable as the only creature with an exterior shell that is bone and part of their spine.

Turtles, like other reptiles (snakes) are often found basking on roads and rocks and logs when the temperature reaches approx. 21 degrees C in the early morning.

Turtles live a long time and have been estimated to live for over 100 years at least, with some studies showing that they can live up to 400 years, and with Indigenous Peoples across the world having told us that they live up to 1000 years. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing how old a turtle is and how long turtles live.

Turtles take a long time to mature until they can reproduce- up to 15 years.

Turtles need to live a long time because they have very low recruitment rates (few surviving offspring); in fact even for snapping turtles which lay more eggs than other species, less than 0.1% of turtle eggs will make it to adulthood .

This is because eggs and hatchlings face many threats;

  • many mammals love to eat turtle eggs and dig up nests;
  • if temperatures are too cold, the eggs won't hatch and
  • if just slightly cool,  for  most species, the hatchlings will be males (no breeding females);
  • if nests hatch, the young need to find water and while searching around are a eaten by birds,
  • if they find water they are then predated by fish

Altogether, this means that it takes almost 60 years on average for one adult snapping turtle to replace itself in the population.

Therefore, every adult turtle is precious and important for the stabilization of turtle populations and the continuation of the species.

Unfortunately turtles face many threats, from people taking turtles home as pets and out of the breeding populations, to pet trades, direct persecution by people who misunderstand that turtles are not aggressive when in their water habitats, the removal or alteration of habitats including lakeshores, bays, wetlands, and pathways between aquatic habitats. But nowadays, the main threat to turtles in road traffic!

Because adult turtles face fewer natural threats, they are the most important age class because they keep populations stable: Adults can have many more successful offspring and therefore are essential to keep turtle populations from declining.

Turtles emerge from hibernation in late April/early May and generally reach peak nesting times during the first two weeks in June. At this time females are heading to their annual nesting sites across roads, and some of these sites are actually on road shoulders. This is the most dangerous time for turtles.

When a turtle is hit and killed on the road, we lose the breeders and many future generations of turtles.

Turtle Island

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAFirst Nations call the earth "Turtle Island". This is because turtles are as old as dinosaurs and are said to have witnessed Creation...and the Creation story of the Mitche Saagiig First Nations of Ontario says that the world was created on the turtle's back.

Turtles have a relationship with the moon too: Every turtle in the world has 28 ridges around its carapace (top-shell) and there are 28 days between each full moon; and because every turtle has 13 scutes (ridges) on their carapace, and there are 13 full moons every year. Turtles main nesting season is around the first full moon in June; the Strawberry moon.

Finally the turtle is a symbol of Truth, and their 7 parts (legs, arms, tail, head, and shell) correspond to the 7 Grandfather Teachings for living a good life.

Turtle Habitats/Wetland Facts

Wetlands are nature's kidneys- they are vital in regulating water levels and cleaning water. Wetlands are habitats where water stands for more than 45 days of the year and therefore the dead leaves and debris turn into organic soils and plants that grow in wetlands are water-loving unique plants. Organic soils in wetlands act like sponges to hold on to water during floods and to release water during dry-times. Wetland plants and soils together filter water and take up pollutants and excess nutrients out of water, keeping water clean. Wetlands are essential habitats for over 70% of Ontario's species. Large mammals, frogs, birds, fish, and insects all use wetlands at some critical stage in their life- and wetlands are some of the most diverse and important habitats in the world. There are 4 main wetland types in Ontario: bogs, fens, swamps, and marshes. Wetlands are found at the mouth of rives, along rivers, shores of lakes, in isolated pockets surrounded by upland habitats, or in a string of connected habitats.

Turtles need to bask and therefore keeping or placing natural and simple features in the water such as dead timber or logs, will support turtles and also provide habitat for fishes.

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Recent News

  • We are Hiring! Summer and into the Fall 2021
  • What the Phrag? All You Need to Know About Invasive Phragmites
  • Bridging Communities Through Experiences with Public Art and Nature
  • New Children’s Book to Save Turtles_ Never Give Up_ Now in Ojibwa and English
  • Turtle Calendars Raise Funds for Tunnels

Turtle Guardians is a program of The Land Between charity and invaluable partners. www.thelandbetween.ca

Contact Turtle Guardians at 705-457-1222 info@turtleguardians.ca

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Kids & Communities Saving Turtles 🇨🇦 A National Charity to Help Our Oldest Relatives. 🐢 Follow us on Facebook or find us online @turtleguardians

IMPORTANT, statement of interpretation regarding B IMPORTANT, statement of interpretation regarding Bill 257  on Ontario’s wildlife from Environmental Defence : Last week the Government of Ontario proposed changes to the Planning Act that even further reduce the protection of environmentally significant wetlands, forests, and farmlands across Ontario. Hidden within Bill 257, “Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act,” the proposed changes will allow Minister's Zoning Orders (MZOs) to override key provisions of the Planning Act, and if made a law, can fast track development projects that destroy protected farmland, wetlands and natural features. MZOs will no longer have to be consistent with Ontario's fundamental planning principles set out in the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). Visit environmentaldefence.ca/campaign/protecting-ontarios-environment for more information and to take action. 
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #stopBill257 #environmentaldefense #ontariowildlife #wildlifeconservation #protectnature #ontarioturtles #blandingsturtle #porcupine #redfox
For our 2021 Turtle Walk, Turtle Guardians and The For our 2021 Turtle Walk, Turtle Guardians and The Land Between charity will be raising money for nonprofit organizations in Texas that are working to save sea turtles. A high number of turtles have been found “frozen” on beaches due to the unusually cold weather in Texas. Although many have been rescued and brought to shelters, they still have a lot of care and recovery ahead of them before they can be released.⠀
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Please visit The Land Between or Turtle Guardians website for more information or to register for a 2021 Turtle Walk 🐢⠀
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#turtleguardians #turtlewalk #reptiles #reptilesofinstagram #thelandbetween #tlb #eccc #cnpp #speciesatrisk #sar #conservation #highlandhabitat #ontarioturtles #turtleconservation #texasturtles
We are hiring for summer 2021! Full and Part Time We are hiring for summer 2021! Full and Part Time positions ranging from 2 to 12 months. We are hiring turtle and wildlife field technicians, restoration ecologists, lake health specialists, computer programmers, and Indigenous Knowledge Coordinators. Visit us online for more information (link in bio)!⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #wildlifeconservation #summer2021 #fieldwork #ontarioturtles #restorationecology #fieldtechnician #conservationbiology #wearehiring #haliburtonhighlands #indigenousknowledge
Turtles are always keeping us guessing! This turtl Turtles are always keeping us guessing! This turtle was seen walking on top of a frozen wetland a couple of years ago in Minnesota! Maybe there will be something to look forward to this March!⠀
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Credit: David Ellis/USFWS⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #turtleconservation #minnesota #winterecology #watch4turtles #prairiewetlandslearningcentre
Welcome to March! I'm sure everyone is a little si Welcome to March! I'm sure everyone is a little sick of being inside right about now but only a couple more weeks until spring! It won't be long until turtles leave their hibernation sites and we start seeing them out on the roads again. Helping turtles across the road is a great way to get out of the house and keep busy this spring! Always move a turtle in the direction it was travelling and if you see any red-eared sliders like Betty, contact us at 705-854-3578 for more information on what to do with invasive species!⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #redearedsliders #invasivespecies #ontarioturtles #watch4turtles #bettyboop #turtlesofinstagram #reptilesofinstagram #lockdown #march #macbook #pizza #stayinside
Check out our new Turtle Guardians music video!⠀ Check out our new Turtle Guardians music video!⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #ontarioturtles #turtleconservation #watch4turtles #wildlifeconservation #speciesatrisk
We're starting to notice the days getting longer w We're starting to notice the days getting longer which means that turtle season is right around the corner! Spotted turtles are the first turtles to emerge from hibernation in the spring, often appearing while there is still partial ice cover. Unlike Ontario's other turtle species, spotted turtles don't spend the hottest parts of the summer basking in the sun and foraging, instead they go into a period of hot-weather dormancy called aestivation. Spotted turtles will aestivate in the soft bottoms of water bodies, fields or woodlands to avoid the hot, dry weather!⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #ontarioturtles #spottedturtle #turtlefacts #speciesatrisk #wildlifeconservation #aestivation #conservationbiology #savetheturtles #hibernation #⠀
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Photo Credits: Scott Gillingwater
Everybody could use a little sunshine in their lif Everybody could use a little sunshine in their life, especially our cold blooded friends. Reptiles can't regulate their body temperature internally so it fluctuates with their environment. By basking in the sun, turtles and frogs raise their body temperature which helps to increase their metabolism for digesting food and reproduction!⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #paintedturtle #ontarioturtles #greenfrog #ectotherm #coldblooded #sunshine #reptiles #turtlefacts ⠀
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Photo Credit: Tom Ferguson
The most obvious difference between northern map t The most obvious difference between northern map turtles (left) and midland painted turtles (right) is the size. Female northern map turtles can reach up to 27 cm long whereas painted turtles typically only reach 14 cm long. The carapace (top shell) also differs in colour and shape. Northern map turtles have light markings on a dark background and a serrated edge at the rear. Painted turtles have a smooth, black carapace with red markings around the edges. ⠀
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#turtleguardians #thelandbetween #paintedturtle #northernmapturtle #ontarioturtles #turtlefacts #turtleconservation #wildlifeconservation #watch4turtles ⠀
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Photo credits: Green Raven Photography
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