Turtles Kingston

When possible, never straddle a turtle with your vehicle. Here are a few reasons why:

1. The common Snapping Turtle cannot retract into its shell like all other Ontario turtles, as a means of 'protection'. Instead, the turtle will defend itself by rearing up, extending their long neck and lunging to snap as it is their only means of defence. This increases their likelihood of being caught in the undercarriage of vehicles, leading to extensive injuries or death. Common injures include a cracked carapace or plastron, broken jaw or limb, and head trauma.

2. Smaller turtles like the Midland Painted Turtle, will often stay in the middle of the road like a sitting target or 'scurry' across the road. Both often result in life threatening injuries or their demise.

Midland Painted and Northern Map turtles have two hatchling emergence periods, during which hatchlings can be found on land making their way to water. One emergence period is in the autumn, this is the expected period that occurs 60-90 days after being laid. The second emergence period is the following spring between March and June. This means the hatchlings would have hatched and spent the winter in their nest.

Why do some Midland Painted and Northern Map turtles decide to overwinter in their nests? We have no idea, but in Kingston there is research that suggests hatchlings in 75% of nest will decide to overwinter in the nest.

From August to October, and March to June, you'll find tiny turtles on the move! This also means that if you don't notice hatchlings coming out of a nest you protected, they may still be in there! Do not dig up, alter or move a nest in any way as you could kill the hatchlings - it is also ILLEGAL to do so.

Turtles are attracted to exposed sand, gravel, and dirt for nesting. This means that if you have a gravel drive way or even landscaping / gardening materials on your property, and you live near turtle habitat, you may get turtles nesting in these locations.

As species at risk you must let the turtle nest where it wants, but you can try to prevent them from nesting in your gardening piles by covering them with a tarp from May through July. If they do happen to nest before you have it covered then you MUST leave the nest where it is. It is illegal to dig up or alter a turtle nest in any way - not only is it illegal, without proper training you may accidentally kill the turtle embryos.

A turtle nest in your driveway can be protected if it’s not in your way. If a nest protector is not possible then do not worry. Leave the nest as it is; an occasional car driving over it won’t harm it. But remember to watch out for hatchlings emerging sometime between August - October or March - June.

Accidental hooking of turtles on fishing lines is another threat to our local turtles. They are opportunistic scavengers which sometimes includes live fish leaving them vulnerable to getting caught on baited fishing hooks.

DO NOT

• cut the fishing line when a turtle is hooked, as the hook remains caught in the turtle. If swallowed, the hook can become lodged in the throat or stomach, which can be fatal.

• reel in the line if at all possible as this will likely cause further injury. If there is no other option, be gentle and slow.

• lift the turtle out by the line or tail.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• If possible, lift the turtle out of the water using a fishing net or grab from the back end of the shell.

• Be cautious and careful as the turtle may attempt to flee or defend itself.

• If the hook is not easily removed, please bring the turtle to a temporary holding station, Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee or the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre in Peterborough for medical attention.