Turtle Gaurdians

Ontario is home to eight species of turtles – all of which are at risk. This time of the year is the most dangerous time for turtle species across the province as more motorists take to area roads. Every year, and estimated 2000 different species of turtles are killed by vehicles.

That's why the work of the Turtle Guardians, based out of Haliburton, is so critically important. Because turtles can take more than two decades to become sexually mature, the turtle population continues to dwindle, since many roads cross the wetlands that are home to turtles. So, the Turtle Guardians are doing all they can to work with municipalities, road departments and the broader public to prevent needless turtle injuries and deaths. They carry out road monitoring, act as first responders to injured and deceased turtles on roadways, conduct research and run Ontario's third largest egg incubation program, releasing 9,000 hatchlings into the wild each year. But even with their efforts, turtle populations have yet to bounce back.

CanoeFM spent some time with the Turtle Guardians at their new location in Haliburton to meet some of the captive turtles used at public education events and to learn more about the importance turtles play in our natural ecosystems.