The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group has introduced a new emergency hotline for motorists encountering turtles on the roads in Wellington County. Founded by Sandy Nicholls, the group launched the hotline in August to address the high mortality rate of turtles in the area. Nicholls emphasized the urgent need for the hotline due to the abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles in Wellington County.
To streamline the rescue process, the hotline prompts callers with specific questions to pinpoint the exact location of stranded or injured turtles. Nicholls highlighted the hotline’s significance during nesting season, explaining that male turtles are most active in May, followed by females in June. The predominant turtle species in Wellington County, including snapping turtles and painted turtles, are facing a concerning decline, attributed to factors like road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching.
Notably, snapping turtles are categorized as a species at risk in Ontario, marked as a special concern. Meanwhile, federally, Midland and eastern painted turtles hold a special concern status. The government of Canada’s website attributes the decline of painted turtles to the drastic reduction of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries.
Nicholls stressed the importance of contacting the hotline even if a turtle appears deceased or severely injured. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for necessary medical care, including procedures like using pins and screws for treatment. She also mentioned the possibility of extracting eggs from deceased female turtles for incubation and subsequent release into their natural habitat.
The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group’s efforts encompass responding to turtle emergencies, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and releasing them into suitable environments. Nicholls advised that the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre operates its hotline for injured turtles across Ontario. To reach the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can dial 226-906-7014.