The Land Between is Turtle Country!
This region harbors over 1/3 of Ontario’s turtle population! With the only rock barrens and the highest density of aquatic habitats, The Land Between is home to a vast amount of reptiles. But too, this region is mainly intact. Rapid development threatens the last stronghold for Ontario’s special species: Become a Turtle Guardian by visiting:
www.turtleguardians.com
TLB has been working to save turtles and turtle habitats (wetlands!) across the region since 2006. We’ve installed crossing signs; mapped and conserved wetlands; supported turtle science and the installation of underpasses.
We work with partners of the Toronto Zoo, Scales Nature Park, Kids for Turtles Environmental Education, Ontario Nature, Environment Canada, and local groups.
Turtles are globally threatened!
Rebecca Palmer
- Turtles live to over 100 years, and they need to because it takes about 25 years of laying eggs for one new turtle to survive. Recruitment rates are about 1%.
- The majority of nests are dug out by raccoons foxes, skunks and weasels…and if left alone, but not warm enough, hatchlings will be mostly male turtles.
- Once baby turtles hatch they need to find water and are perfect prey for bluejays, crows and ravens. At the water, bass, walleye and other fish like to eat little turtles too.
- Turtles get hit on roads when they are moving to nesting sites, and these turtles are mainly the egg laying females.
- Finally, many people think that turtles make good pets and remove them from the population.
Turtles Keep Water Clean
- Turtles, especially Snapping Turtles, don’t bite in water, but are important for our lakes as they clean up all the dead matter at the bottom, and keep our water clean!
Through our Turtle Guardians program, we help you help turtles. We provide educational opportunities and online tools to help identify turtles and turtle habitats. We link you to an online reporting form to report where you see turtles, so that we can install crossing signs and monitor populations and habitats. Turtle Guardians receive annual awards and have access to site visits to help with stewardship plans on their properties.
