With field season in full swing, the Biology team at the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) is turning its focus to an urgent conservation priority: Ontario’s native turtles.
All eight species of turtle in Ontario are listed as Species at Risk, and their future depends on collective action.
Turtles are incredibly slow to recover from population losses. Many species can live up to 100 years, but they mature slowly, some not reproducing until 15 to 20 years of age, and face low reproductive success.
Fewer than one in 100 turtle eggs survive to adulthood, SCRCA officials say.
This makes every adult turtle critical to the survival of the population, particularly as they face threats like habitat loss, road mortality, and egg predation.
The St. Clair Region watershed is home to six of Ontario’s eight turtle species—all of which are at risk.
One species in particular, the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, is endangered and at imminent risk of extinction in Canada.
Biologists have observed a troubling lack of young Spiny Softshells (a phenomenon known as low “recruitment”) in the Sydenham River, posing a serious concern for long-term sustainability.
To help safeguard this rare species, the SCRCA leads a variety of recovery efforts, including turtle population and habitat surveys, nesting site enhancements, and its flagship Captive Hatch and Release Program (CHRP).
CHRP aims to rescue turtle nests that are at immediate risk, whether from predators, flooding, or habitat disturbances.
Eggs under threat are collected and incubated, under special permits and with the support of partners such as Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.
Once hatched, the young turtles are closely monitored to ensure they are healthy before being released into the wild.
SCRCA is calling on the public to be part of this important conservation effort.
Craig Paterson, Manager of Biology, is asking residents to keep an eye out for turtles nesting in unsafe areas, e.g., at the roadside, farm fields, or even a front lawn; “community involvement plays a vital role in protecting vulnerable species and preserving the biodiversity of our watershed.”
Report turtle sightings here: https://www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/get-involved/report-a-turtle-sighting/
This work is only possible through grant funding and private donations.
For more information and to learn what people can do to help support native turtle populations, visit https://www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/get-involved/.
