Visitors to a number of St. Thomas parks can expect to see something new this spring.
Staff have started utilizing Turtle Nest Protectors around the city to help protected the now at risk species.
It’s all thanks to grant funding from TD Friends of the Environment.
Turtle eggs serve as food for many wild species, and unfortunately, less than 1% of eggs hatch and survive to adulthood. For instance, it takes approximately 59 years for a snapping turtle to replace itself in the population due to their late maturity and the high mortality rate of eggs.
While natural ecosystems can generally sustain this loss of eggs and hatchlings, all turtle species in Ontario are now considered Species at Risk because of numerous human-related threats.
These protectors are crucial for increasing the survival rates of turtle eggs and hatchlings and staff ask the public to avoid disturbing these areas to help support the efforts.
Written by: K. Freeman
