KTTC Blog

New Blog

2012-01-06T12:42:00.003-05:00

Visit our new blog, now integrated into our website, at kawarthaturtle.org/blog.

Feature Volunteers: Valérie and Stellah

2011-12-05T18:54:00.000-05:00

We were extremely lucky this year to again be selected as a host work placement for two Canada World Youth Students! Valérie Savane and Stellah Mokiwa volunteered three full days a week for the last nine weeks and are now moving on to the next stage of their program – all the way to Africa!

Valérie, a Canadian from Quebec, couldn’t wait to get her hands dirty working with the turtles! Her enthusiasm was contagious. She would arrive each day ready to conquer any task – regardless of how mundane it might be. While she would tirelessly spend hours entering data, we would always make sure that there were turtles that needed to be clean and/or fed. Valérie would always do that little bit extra, like mopping the floor or disinfecting a tank, while using her amazing creativity to leave lovely turtle doodles around the centre for everyone to enjoy.

Stellah, an African from Tanzania, was not quite so sure about turtles at the beginning. While she was apprehensive, as where her fellow Tanzanians, she realized that someone had to step forward to take the position. She bravely accepted the position and arrived with incredible optimism. Realizing that we were going to have to sell her on turtles, I explained how healthy turtle populations can help contribute to keeping our water clean. Her interest was sparked and she took to her new role with great gusto. By the end of the nine weeks Stellah was in love with turtles - she now wouldn’t hesitate to chop up worms for the young hatchlings or pick up a 20 lb snapping turtle!

Thank you, Stellah and Valérie, for all of your incredible hard work and dedication to the turtles!

KTTC Welcomes New Coordinator

2010-11-05T19:48:00.001-04:00

Coordinator Kate Siena's contract is coming to an end, and while we're sad to see her go we wish her well on her travels this coming winter. The KTTC welcomes Lynda Ruegg as the new part-time volunteer & outreach coordinator for the winter months. The funding for her contract has been generously provided by a grant from Johansen-Larsen Foundation.

Lynda has been involved with KTTC since 2007. She has extensive experience as a turtle care volunteer and has also assisted with various outreach & fundraising events. She is passionate about turtles and has been involved with various projects such as turtle habitat restoration, turtle research, and working with Leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica. She attended the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association Conference in 2008 and the Chelonian Conservation Workshop at the Toronto Zoo in 2009 to gain knowledge and connect with experts in the field. She is excited about this new opportunity with KTTC and looks forward to meeting and working with all of you.

2010-11-03T13:52:00.000-04:00

New Crossing Sign in Port Perry

02 Nov, 2010

Every day KTTC volunteer Leslie Burritt drives through Port Perry on her way to and from work. The town is located on the shores of Lake Scugog, and every spring hoards of turtles hoist themselves out of water to lay their eggs on nearby sandy banks. Leslie became concerned about the many turtles she came across killed by vehicles while trying to cross the road or lay eggs on the shoulders of the road.

This past summer she approached the Township of Scugog with a proposal to erect turtle crossing signs at three major roadways leading into town. The council forwarded her proposal to the appropriate authorities, stating their support to those responsible for the roads in question. The Ministry of Transportation governing provincial highways were to meet this past fall with advisors to discuss the possibility of crossing signs on the Hwy. 7A causeway but as yet, no decision has been passed along. However, Durham Region responded very quickly and within a short time made a commitment to install signs on Reach St. (a regional road). The signs were erected within the last month. The KTTC commends the Region of Durham for their commitment to raising driver awareness of sensitive turtle crossing areas!

For more information about installing crossing signs in your own area contact the Toronto Zoo's Adopt-a-Pond Programme.

Update: Leslie received a letter from the Ministry of Transportation, dated Dec 3, that the ministry is developing a policy associated with signing for smaller animals on provincial highway facilities. The working group is nearing completion of a draft policy for internal review within the next few months with approval anticipated by mid 2011.

Over $2600 raised at Oct 16 Dog Walk

2010-10-18T17:39:00.012-04:00

Preliminary results indicate that the Oct 16 Dog Walk for Turtles raised over $2,600!

Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support for the KTTC. We beat our goal of $2000! Final results will be posted here soon!

Check out photos taken by our volunteers!
If you have pics to add please email them to us at volunteer@kawarthaturtle.org.

Be sure to check out the Examiner's photo album too!

Prizes were awarded for:

highest pledge amount raised: Darlene Dove ($352)
smallest dog: Dolly (17 pound Dachshund)
largest dog: Freya (105 pound Newfoundland)
youngest dog: Sadie (4.5 months)
oldest dog: Tramp (14 years)
youngest walker: 3 year-old Claire who walked with Roxy
runner-up 12 year-old Jacey who accompanied Sadie
best-dressed dog: 4-way tie between Lily, Frank, Chester & Katie

The KTTC would like to thank the following event sponsors:

Oct 16th: Dog Walk for Turtles

2010-10-02T17:00:00.000-04:00

We hope and your four-footed best friend will join us Saturday, Oct 16th, 12pm-3pm at Peterborough's Jackson Park to help KTTC help turtles.

Prizes will be awarded following the run for:
highest pledge amount raised, smallest dog, largest dog, and best "reptilian" costume.

Cost and Registration:
There is no minumum pledge amount to participate, but the more pledges you collect the closer we will get to our goal of $2,000 for the event. This amount will help us cover one's month's rent - but if we can raise more that's even better!

Pledgeforms, directions, posters & more on our website!<.p>

Admissions Continue

2010-10-02T10:40:00.013-04:00

2010 has been a busy season - but unlike turtles we do not take a break to hibernate over winter! This year we have had 18 batches of turtle eggs hatch at our centre, with the last batch hatching as you are reading this. Many have already been released back into the wild, but it is too cold to release those that are hatching this late.

Although nesting season is the peak of admission, we are still busy admitting turtles well into the fall. In the past few days we have a badly injured snapping turtle on it's way in from a wildlife centre near Sudbury, and painted turtle admitted with an abscess on its face.

This past week we also admitted our SECOND Stinkpot of the year!. This is a species we do not often see at our centre. Stinkpots, or Eastern Musk Turtles, are ranked "Threatened" by both the provinicial & federal governments.

Blanding's Turtles, like the one pictured above, are also a Threatened species. Although still relatively common in the Kawarthas they are not common across Ontario and are in fact Endangered in the maritimes. Visit the Ministry of Natural Resources Species at Risk page to learn about species at risk in your part of Ontario.

KTTC welcomes the Canada World Youth

2010-09-29T10:38:00.001-04:00

KTTC would like to welcome Canada World Youth Volunteers back for the second year in a row! Stellah and Valerie will be volunteering at the centre 3 days a week. They will be helping with a variety of tasks around the centre, including caring for the turtles, distributing the fall edition of the Kawartha Turtle Times, and creating a map of locations where injured turtles have been found.

Fall Events

2010-09-21T14:19:00.001-04:00

Come visit the KTTC at the following events. We'd love to meet you!

Fall for the Rouge Affair

Saturday Oct 9th

Rouge Valley Conservation Centre

1749 Meadowvale Road

Join us on Saturday October 9 and Fall for the Rouge. Come and meet local flora and fauna experts, take part in our fall hike through the Rouge and admire the changing colours, and learn all about nature photography from the photography experts from Henry’s Photo • Digital • Video. Take part in our photo contest, stay for a BBQ lunch and listen to local group Social Potion. Details to come.

The Land Between" Symposium

October 15th and 16th

Haliburton School of the Arts

Drop in for a day of discovery. See presentations from historians, conservation groups, landowners, and scientists. Learn about local ecology, history and culture. $10 at the door. Students under 18 are free. For more information contact tlb@thelandbetween.ca

The Story of Baby Turtles 1, 2 & 3

2010-09-16T16:16:00.016-04:00

Have a turtle story to share? Pass it along and we'll post it on our blog. This story was submitted by a local resident who helped return baby turtles hatched at the KTTC to the wild.

Saturday, September 11, 2010 was release day for baby turtles 1, 2 &3.Painted Turtle Mom had been found injured on the road in May by good friend Laurel McCauley and transported to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. Mom did not survive her injuries however the Centre x-rayed MOM and discovered 9 eggs.

Eggs were extracted from Mom and 3 little Turtle babies survived!! As I live in Peterborough, Laurel asked me to transport the turtle babies back to Haliburton to the lake where she found MOM to help with the release. I was so thankful to be part of the turtle rescue/release team!

So we got the call that babies were ready for release on what turned out to be a perfect sunny September Saturday! We also found out that the release happens quickly. Kate from the KTTC told me the babies were feisty and ready to go – she was so right!

Turtle #1 went on the log on the shore of the lake where Mom lived, hunched inside shell then all of a sudden – everything popped out, head, tail, legs and with a little plop, that turtle was off swimming wholeheartedly and happily into the lake …

We were better prepared for release of turtle babies 2 & 3! You will see them sitting on the log also looking out on the lake taking in their first look at freedom! I swear their little heads popped up when Laurel was telling them NOT to go on the road like MOM had!

Turtle babies 2 & 3 did not enter the lake in the same dramatic fashion that Turtle baby #1 did – they kind of slid off the log into the water – however they were very happy to be in the water as well!! And so off they went with the 2 “adopted” human Moms looking on very proudly – one of us (me) a bit worried about that little one swimming off into the lake however Mom Laurel very wisely pointed out that turtles have been doing this for many years! So Mom Jill had to practice letting go ….The whole release process probably took about 1 minute if that!

What an honour and privilege to release these beautiful and magical beings back to the lake where MOM lived. They knew they were home and to see these little turtles experience their first taste of home and freedom was a truly amazing and humbling experience and something I will never forget.

Thanks to friend Laurel for rescuing MOM Turtle! Thank you to Kate and everyone at the Kawartha Trauma Centre for caring about turtles and taking care of babies until they can be released! I will never pass by an injured turtle again without stopping to see how I can help!

~ Adopted Mom Jill N. Jones (photos by Laurel McCauly)

A New Home for our Animal Ambassadors

2010-09-04T09:43:00.000-04:00

Dustin Milne, from Calgary, has been visiting Peterborough for the summer and happened to find out that we were looking to build a special turtle enclosure. Dustin’s experience is in set building for musical performances, but through this work he has become a talented builder with a highly creative mind. He was able to get materials donated and create a masterpiece that we are thrilled with. We can now invite people to the centre to show them our public education area with live turtles on display!

Blandella, our resident non- releasable Blanding’s turtle, has spent the last three weeks in her new, lavish, enclosure and is settling in well. Andrea, another non-releasable Blanding’s turtle that is blind, is going to be moved in shortly.

120 Turtles and Counting!

2010-09-04T09:37:00.004-04:00

So far this season we have admitted over 120 turtles into our care. Most of these were adults that have been injured on our roadways. Adding to this total are the many, many babies that are currently hatching! One clutch of 51 snapping turtle eggs had 47 successful hatchings! All 47 were released back into the area where the mother was found. We also have 10 Blanding’s turtles busy hatching, and a number of painted turtles from several different clutches.

The adult turtles that are not ready for release by autumn will stay with us for the entire winter to recover. Painted turtles that hatch later in the season often overwinter in their nest, so the late hatching eggs that are still incubating at KTTC will also stay in our care until the spring.

KTTC Needs Your Help!
As many of you know, our expenses increased dramatically last year when we lost our donated space. Our monthly operating costs now average about $4,000/month. Please consider supporting the KTTC by making a donation, and letting your friends, family and colleagues know that we need their help. As a registered charity we provide tax receipts for donations over $20. Donations can be made online through Canada Helps, or by sending a cheque to:

KTTC
c/o Riverview Park & Zoo
PO Box 4125
Peterborough ON K9J 6Z5

If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor please contact Danica at sponsor@kawarthaturtle.org.

New Logo!

2010-08-14T10:32:00.002-04:00

The KTTC is happy to announce that we have a brand new logo!

The logo design was generously donated by Logo Union.

Kathleen Chong's Creative Contribution

2010-07-04T11:00:00.001-04:00

KTTC volunteers & supporters are forever coming up with new ways to raise money for the turtles. Eight-year-old Kathleen Chong decided (on her own) to bake chocolate-chip cookies to sell to raise money for KTTC. She stopped by the centre on Friday after school with a dish of money ($29.41), a super-proud Mum, and a smile that could stop traffic!

Donations of any amount are always welcome at the KTTC. If you have a garage sale, bake sale, or some other fundraiser and would like to donate the proceeds let us know! Donations can be submitted online through CanadaHelps.org, or contact us at info@kawarthaturtle.org or 741-5000 to make other arrangements.

66 Turtles Admitted to date

2010-07-04T10:52:00.003-04:00

As always, June was a very busy month at the KTTC. Many of our patients are brought in during the month of June, the height of turtle nesting season. A total of sixty-six (66) turtles have been admitted so far this year! We'd like to thank the Riverview Park & Zoo, Sherbrook Heights Animal Hospital & Toronto Wildlife Centre for their continued support and assistance with admissions.

This June also saw the 1st 5km Run for Turtles. The day was a wet one, but over 60 runners and lots of kids came out and raised over $2500! Those who missed it can still catch a glimpse of the wonderful turtle spirit through photos taken by The Examiner. Congratulations to event organizer Danielle Tassie and all the volunteers who helped out - the final final results will be released soon!

The Nursery Ward

2010-06-30T11:05:00.013-04:00

The majority of turtles hit by cars in the in the spring and early summer are adult females on their way to nest. This means that many of the females that are admitted to the KTTC are "gravid", or carrying eggs. Many of the patients drop their eggs during their stay with us. Weplace artificial nesting boxes filled with sand in their enclosures to make this experience more comfortable for them.

At the moment we are incubating over 160 eggs from Snapping Turtles, Blanding's Turtles, and Painted Turtles. Many of these were laid by patients that are still in our care. However 11 of these clutches are from turtles that didn't survive their injuries. The hatchlings from these eggs will be released at the very same location that the the adult was originally found.

We're often asked what turtle eggs look like. Snapping Turtle eggs (above) are spherical, about the size of a ping pong ball. The eggs of Blanding's Turtles or Painted Turtles (right) are more elongated.

Turtles do not sit on their nests or care for their young, so babies that we hatch at the centre do not need their parents to raise them. Most eggs in the wild are dug up within days of being laid by hungry raccoons, coyotes, or other predators. The eggs we hatch at the centre have a bit of a "head start" by being protected while they incubate.

In the wild, the mother turtle comes to land in the spring or early summer and digs a hole in a sunny spot. As the eggs are laid she uses her back legs to carefully place them one by one in the nest. When she's done she fills the hole back in and heads back to the water, and never sees her babies again. The eggs are incubated over the next 2-3 months by warmth of the sun. In late summer or early fall the eggs hatch and the babies dig their way out of the nest and find their way back to the water. Painted Turtles hatchlings sometimes spend their first winter in the nest, and can often be seen on their way to the water early the following spring.

You'll never see the eggs of a nest that is safely incubating, though at this time of year especially you may come across the remains of a nest that has been dug up by hungry predators. If you come across a nest that has been predated you will often find bits of shrivelled up shell scattered around the nest (below).

We sometimes hear of well-meaning individuals who dig up nests and relocate them, or attempt to incubate them at home. We would like to remind you that wild animals cannot be taken into captivity (even as embryos tucked inside an egg) without a license. If you come across eggs that have been dug up accidentally (as sometimes happens when landscaping) please replace the eggs or contact your nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator to ensure that the eggs are properly cared for and have the greatest chance of hatching successfully.

Report Your Sightings!

2010-06-24T10:55:00.002-04:00

Remember to report your turtle sightings to the Ontario Turtle Tally or the Ontario Reptile & Amphibian Atlas. Photos are a great way to confirm the identification of the species for these citizen science projects. The snapper pictured here was spotted nesting by volunteer Kim Clark near Ottawa - the distinctive spikes of this dinosaur-like tail are easy to spot!

The Reptile & Amphibian Atlas also welcomes sightings of any other amphibians and reptiles you may come across. People are encouraged to send in sightings of dead animals as well as live ones, as these still demonstrate the presence of the species in the area, and may also be useful for keeping track of road mortality hotspots.

Visit the atlas' website for more information on the species found in Ontario (including identification features & range maps), tips for searching for species, and online reporting forms, and lots more!

2010 Turtle Releases

2010-06-19T11:46:00.011-04:00

by Lindsay Robbins

Releasing is perhaps one of the most incredible adventures experienced by a KTTC volunteer. After an entire year of healing, many ups and downs and countless hours of hard work its nothing short of miraculous to get the opportunity to return these amazing creatures to their natural environment where they will do what they do best; survive! We take in turtles from all across Ontario and must always keep in mind that a turtle must be released within a kilometre of where they were originally found... Here are just a few of the releases done by the KTTC this year, we are pleased to share their stories with you.

Mojo
Polly
Marie
Caraman
Wally
Igor

Mojo

Mojo was brought in by a concerned citizen from Mallorytown, ON, July 2008 with a severely fractured carapace (top shell) needing extensive hardware and extra healing time :) Mojo's "smiling" Blanding's face was well known by the KTTC husbandry volunteers as she was always quite inquisitive. Mojo spent two long years at the rehab centre and was finally given the "go ahead" by Dr. Carstairs for her journey home to begin.

I had never been to Mallorytown, although am now a huge fan of it's phenomenal scenery and breathtaking shorelines. It was quite easy to find a suitable release spot for Mojo as there were many bodies of water close to the original recovery spot. After finding the perfect area we released Mojo in the water where she simply seemed to enjoy her surroundings. She pause for a short while, almost unsure as to what to do next until we observed a fish swim underneath her. She must have felt the vibration and disappeared within a few seconds.

Polly

Polly is a Blanding's Turtle that was brought in to the KTTC after being struck by a vehicle and found by a concerned citizen along Hwy 7. After examination Polly was diagnosed with an injured eye and a fracture to the right side of her carapace. Polly remained at the trauma centre until this year, when she was given the OK to go home.

Polly was released near her original capture site at a beautiful wetland in a VERY remote area, it was a great spot and a pleasure to watch her swim into the sunset :) Polly is well known at the centre as the "ostrich" turtle, she could always be found basking on her rock with only her head in the water looking straight down to the bottom of her tank, like an ostrich in the sand. We wish Polly many succesfull nesting seasons, and hope she will help sustain the Blanding's Turtle population in her part of the province!

Marie

Marie is a Snapping turtle brought in to the KTTC from Norland, ON where she was found on the road, severely injured and not moving. After examination by Dr. Carstairs, it was discovered that Marie had a broken jaw and was in need of some medical attention. Marie's jaw was wired together for better healing, and now she is as good as new and able to eat once again :)

Marie's was a great release, as I was assisted by two local Norland residents who showed me all the good "turtle hangouts"! She found a great spot, some new duck friends and an area flooded with her species.

Caraman

Caraman is a young, or immature, male Snapping Turtle found injured in a parking lot south of Peterborough. Caraman was only just brought in to the KTTC this season, and made a speedy recovery to the small wound on the top of his carapace. When w returned to the original capture location we searched for a suitable release spot but were told by two onlookers that there were in fact NO bodies of water in the area. This is one of the problems that can arise when releasing as turtles may travel quite a far distance.

As the sun set we began to hear a chorus of frogs singing in the distance, a sure sign of water nearby :) As if it were meant to be, we looked to the North and found a pond, although there was no direct path, and to get there we would have to make our way through thick brush and VERY unstable ground ... we were two female volunteers, both in dresses ! As KTTC volunteers always do, we rose to the occasion, slid our hip waders over our beautiful dresses and began our trek. After about 10 minutes we made our way through the last bit of brush before seeing water, we both looked at each other to sort of say; " this view is going to take our breath away" . We were right! As we made our way through it was stunning natural wetland in every direction as far as the eye could see, definitely much larger than we had first expected. It was one of those rare moments in life where you marvel at mother nature and her ability to prevail, and no one even knew it was there ;) A pleasure to take part in!

Wally
Wally is a small male painted turtle, found north of Peterborough, with a smashed shell and dragging one rear leg.

Wally's release was another case of "where is the water"? After exploring for quite some time we were worried that there might not be ANY water close to the site where he was found. If we know nothing else of turtles it's that they have an amazing ability to overcome obstacles and find a way to survive. As we began travelling a local road we could see what look like a pond in the distance. We approached the area and found a beautiful body of water! The plants were high and we were only able to see the water for ourselves by holding up a digital camera, Wally on the other hand, found the water quite quickly. He was released by Eva, a KTTC volunteer on her first ever release trip :) GOOD LUCK WALLY!!

Igor

Igor is a feisty Snapping turtle, found injured on the road trying to bite at the underside of cars as they drove over her, one after the other. A young couple travelling in the area witnessed this sad scene and was determined to help - and they did just that by bringin her into the KTTC! Igor was examined and found to have a large crack on top of her carapace. She stayed at the trauma centre over winter and was given a clean bill of health this spring.

As a long time "snapper" volunteer, I must say it was great working with a turtle who not only snapped each and every time she was handled but never seemed to loose her fight, even with an injury :) She was released in what I like to call "turtle haven", which is when you find a release spot thats so incredible it gives you chills. The site was about one kilometre from where she was found near Buckhorn. Eva, a vet tech for the centre took pride in letting her go for the last time .. and surprisingly, as she was taken out of the holding take and placed into the water... without snapping :)

Summer 2010 Events

2010-06-01T12:17:00.008-04:00

Rouge Valley Eco Exploration Event
Saturday, June 5, 2010
10:ooam - 3:00 pm
Rouge Valley Conservation Centre
Admission: suggested donation of $10.00

All are welcome to attend the 2nd annual Rouge Valley Eco Exploration Event, hosted by Citizen Scientists and Rouge Valley Foundation. Come and explore the Rouge and learn about the local flora and fauna from experts including Citizen Scientists, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Ontario Vernal Pools Association and Rouge Park to name a few. Come visit the KTTC station to learn all about turtles! For more information visit: http://www.rvcc.ca/Rouge_Valley_Eco_Exploration_Event.html

Peterborough Field Naturalists Present:
Guided Field Trip - Ontario's Reptile & Amphibian Atlas
Sunday, June 13, 2010
9:ooam ~ 3:00 pm Camp
Kawartha Environment Centre, Peterborough

Join the Peterborough Filed Naturalists to learn how to identify and search for amphibians & reptiles, and how to report your observations to the atlas. Atlas Coordinator Joe Crowley will give a slide show from 9am to 10am, then we will carpool to field sites to search for salamanders, snakes, turtles, frogs - and Ontario's only lizard the 5-lined skink!

Please bring a bagged lunch and plenty of water.
Questions? Contact Gina at volunteer@kawarthaturtle.org.

5k Run For Turtles
Saturday, June 26th, 2010
5:00pm (kid's fun run at 4:30pm)
$20 adult 5km run ($25 after June 16th) /$15 for the kid's fun run
Jackson Park, Peterborough
Register online: The Running Room
Download a pledge sheet, put up a poster

Join us for a 5km run (or walk) along Jackson Park’s trail. The kids can enjoy a short loop around the pond at 4:30 pm. Hopefully, if we are very lucky, we’ll spot some of the park’s resident turtles! All proceeds from the event will help support the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre & our turtle conservation and rehabilitation efforts. This event is all about the turtles & we encourage you to come dressed as YOUR favourite turtle (prizes for best turtle costumes!). Snacks & awards following the run. Invite your friends using our facebook event page.

Winter/Spring 2010 Newsletter

2010-05-31T16:54:00.026-04:00

In this issue:
2009 a Success Thanks to Partners!
Spotlight on the Painted Turtle
Turtle Crawl Raises over $2000
Turtle Myths Busted
Focus on Volunteers: Canada World Youth
The Environmentally- Friendly Highway
The Turtles Thank You! And You! And You!
Our Generous Grantors

2009 a Success Thanks to Partners!
By Gina Varrin

2009 was a very exciting year for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre (KTTC). We admitted over 65 turtles with the help of other wildlife rehabilitators, and a dedicated crew of volunteer "turtle taxi-ers". Initial treatments were performed at partnering centres, including Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), former KTTC vet Kristy Hiltz's Sherbrook Heights Animal Hospital, Cavan Hills Vet Clinic, and Bowmanville Vet Clinic.

Once our centre was ready and the patients were stabilized, the turtles were transferred back to KTTC for long term care. Many were released in the summer or autumn, but those with more serious injuries are over-wintering at the centre, ready to be released this spring.

These partnerships were vital to the KTTC, without help from these centre we would not have been able to admit any turtles this past year.

The collaboration also helped build capacity at partnering centres, giving them the opportunity to gain more experience with turtle rehabilitation. Vader, one of the TWC's turtles, received a cataract removal from veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Joseph Wolfer, with the assistance of Dr. Carstairs, who works both at the KTTC and TWC. The procedure made national news, as it was the first reported cataract surgery performed on a fresh water turtle.

With 2009 behind us we’re gearing up for 2010’s batch of admissions. If you find an injured turtle please note its location, carefully place it in a well-ventilated box and drop it off to Riverview Park & Zoo between 8am – 4pm.
Vader, an aging Snapping Turtle, receives cataract surgery (photo: Scott Wight, Toronto Wildlife Centre)

Species Spotlight: Painted Turtle
By Jennifer Andrews

This season the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre is having an up close and personal look at the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta). There are two subspecies of the painted turtle that reside in Ontario, the Midland Painted (Chrysemys picta marginata) and the Western Painted (Chrysemys picta bellii). The painted turtle is protected under Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, which means that the turtle is ‘protected from being hunted, trapped, held in captivity or traded without a license.

This turtle is quite beautiful, with a dark to olive green carapace with yellow, orange and/or red along the edges of the shell. This bright appears ‘painted’ on, hence the name. The plastron is a bright yellow with a dark central blotch – the shape of which is unique to each individual turtle. The skin on the body (head, limbs and tail) is also a dark to olive green, with bright yellow stripes. They can reach a maximum length of 15cm, with females being larger than males, but males have longer claws and a longer, thicker tail. These turtles are highly aquatic, only coming ashore to migrate and nest. Painted turtles are commonly found in ponds, lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands.

These turtles love to bask (warm themselves in the sunlight), which is why they can be found in large groups basking on fallen logs and rocks. A painted turtle is not a picky eater, as its diet consists of snails, tadpoles, fish, insects, algae and submerged plants. Nesting season occurs in April and May with an incubation time of 80 days (hatching in August and September). Clutches can vary in size from 4 to 23 eggs, and turtles will typically only nest once a season.

There are both natural and human threats to these turtles. They are still wide-spread in Ontario and very common, but natural nest predation decreases the number of hatchlings, and society continues to encroach on their habitat. With roads going through their migrating and nesting habitats, there is an increase in road mortalities. Finally, as with many turtle species, they are popular within the pet trade, and are being taken illegally.

The Painted Turtle may not be a species at risk yet, but if we do not take care of the population we have, the tables may turn for this beautiful species.

Turtle Crawl Raises over $2000

On Saturday, November 7, 2009, the KTTC held its first ever Turtle Crawl Walk-a-thon. The event raised a grand total of $2, 237.20 - that’s almost enough to cover our operating expenses for an entire month!

Congratulations to event organizer Brooke Bays, and the rest of the KTTC fundraising team, for a job well done. And thanks to all who came out or made pledges to the walkers.
Paul Schortemeyer’s prize-winning turtle costume

Congratulations to prize winners:

Top Pledge - Tracy McNaught ($750!)
Runner Up – Steve Peterson ($135)
Runner Up - Fletcher Boultbee ($125)
Runner Up - Leslie Burritt ($85)
Most Laps - Kelsey Powell (12 laps)
Best Costume - Paul Schortemeyer

Thank you also to:

Don on the Job of Omemee for donating a port-a-loo
The Spill Café Bar for providing free hot chocolate
Trent Animal Science Club for yummy bake sale treats
Canada World Youth Volunteers who helped with everything from setting up the course to running the merchandise tent

For more pics see the original blog post.

Turtle Myths Busted
by Brooke Bays

While the old wives tell their tales, turtles continue to be misunderstood. Here are a few common turtle myths busted to help clear their reputation:

Myth #1: Turtles raise their young.
On the contrary, newly hatched turtles are completely independant! In early summer the female turtle finds a nice spot to dig a nest where she will lay her eggs. She then covers the eggs with the surrounding debris, sand and mud to keep them warm. After the eggs are completely covered she leaves and does not return. The eggs are left to incubate for 40 - 90 days, depending on the species, and when the babies finally hatch they head to the water for safety and to feed.

Myth #2: Snapping Turtles “snap” because they are nasty, aggressive creatures.
Anything with a mouth has the potential to bite and will do so to eat or to defend itself. This is no different for snapping turtles, especially since they cannot fully pull into their shells for protection like other turtles. They have developed "snapping" as an alternative defense. In the water they have no natural enemies so they use their powerful jaws for eating only. However, treks overland can be very dangerous for a snapper. They use their “snap” to defend themselves when they feel threatened.

The Environmentally- Friendly Highway
by Kate Tucker

In the current economy, environmentally technologies are becoming more and more common and accepted. Green infrastructure is just one form of eco-friendly entrepreneurialism, and includes sustainable building, renewable energy or landscaping.

Another up-and-coming example of green infrastructure is known as an ecopassage. Ecopassages,are man-made wildlife corridors, built into highways or freeways to help wildlife safely cross high traffic areas without harm. Most models include several underpasses/tunnels of varying size and fencing that guides the wildlife to the underpasses.

Ecopassages help keep wilderness areas connected, preventing isolation, starvation and some breeding barriers. As with salamanders, these narrow tunnels can allow many species of turtle to move from wetland to upland habitat safely and without human interference.

Some could argue that these ecopassages act as funnels for predators, allowing them to simply wait for their prey at the end of the tunnel. Others could argue that such a change in infrastructure is costly and time-consuming.

Regardless, ecopassages seem to be popping up all over with the most extensive and most successful being in Canada’s Banff National Park.

Looks like there may be light at the end of the tunnel for our travelling turtle population!

Focus on Volunteers: Canada World Youth
by Gina Varrin

Since 1971, the Canada World Youth program has made it possible for more than 31 000 young people from 67 countries to have safe and meaningful international experiences, learn about other cultures, and contribute to the well-being of their own communities. Canada World Youth (CWY) is a world leader in the development of international educational programs for youth aged 15 to 25.

Volunteers aged 15-25 participate in a two-part program, with one phase in Canada and the other in another country. This is one of the most original aspects of the CWY model because it provides a perspective on how people live in both countries and fosters true dialogue between partners in the South and in the North. They work with countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.

The CWY program advocates learning by doing, a model in which young volunteers learn by getting involved in communities in Canada and in another country.

This past year the KTTC was fortunate to host a pair of CWY volunteers at the centre. Frank & M.J. were a huge help, assisting with turtle care duties once a week from September until December.

The entire crew came out to help with the Turtle Crawl walk-a-thon in November: setting up the course, running the merchandise booth, and cheering on the walkers. In December the group held a fundraising farewell dinner to benefit the KTTC and a Tanzanian orphanage they volunteered at during the second half of their program. The dinner and silent auction raised over $500 for each charity!

The Turtles Thank You! And You! And You!

Wedding Favours for the Turtles
On their wedding day, Marion Killey & her groom donated to the KTTC in lieu of giving out party favours to guests. The couple's family have a long history of trying to help and rehabilitate injured animals. They decided that investing in the care of the turtles was the best way to thank their guests for helping them celebrate on their union. Their guests loved the complimentary bumper stickers and turtle information cards that the KTTC provided for the table settings.

KCVI Students raise $455!
This past autumn, two high school students from Kingston, Ontario contacted us asking to see if their Environmental Science Club could help fundraise for the KTTC. Emily & Taylor raised $75 at a silent auction, $135 at a bake sale, and solicited an additional $250 donation from the club to add to the pot. The students also did a presentation about the KTTC and their fundraising efforts for their classmates.

Freezer for the Centre
The turtle centre gives a big thumbs up to Donna Dummitt of Havelock for donating a freezer to the centre. Thanks to Lori Dunn, Todd Starr, and Nelson Matthews for moving it from Havelock to the Centre in Peterborough!

Donations over $1000!
o Beryl Carstairs
o Islay McGlynn
o TransCanada Corporation matched a $1000 donation made by Murray Samuel

Partners
The KTTC has received phenomenal support from existing and new partners in the past year:
o Seneca College, who allowed Dr. Carstairs to treat turtles at the college last summer free of charge.
o Many students from the Seneca Vet Technician program have also been a great help – some even spent their Christmas vacation sampling blood at the Centre.
o Toronto Wildlife Centre
o Dr. Kristy Hiltz and Sherbrook Heights Animal Hospital
o Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic
o Cavan Hills Vet Clinic
o Paulmac's Pet Food store in Port Perry
o Lakefield Animal Hospital

Cheers to CDMV for supplying veterinary supplies at a reduced rate!

Our Generous Grantors

The KTTC gratefully acknowledges the support of the following businesses and foundations for their generous support of our work!

Hagen Limited
Amount: $500 of in-kind donations
Hagen Limited has generously offered to donate $500 worth of equipment, such as UV lights and filters.

Metro Toronto Zoo
Amount: $1,000
A lot has changed since the centre printed its brochures in 2004. Thanks to the Metro Toronto Zoo the centre will be able to design and print new
brochures with updated information!

Ontario Trillium Foundation
Amount: $35,820
Volunteer-run since the very beginning, the KTTC is proud to announce that our first employee will be a volunteer coordinator! The Ontario Trillium Foundation has generously granted us funds to hire a staff person to coordinate volunteers & education efforts at the centre. A part of the grant will also be further develop our outreach programs.

Shell Environmental Fund
Amount: $4,975
Thanks to the generosity of the Shell Environmental Fund the KTTC has been able to purchase our own diagnostic and surgical equipment, including: doppler, surgical instruments, ambigbag, and endotracheal tubes. Acquiring our own laboratory and diagnostic equipment means that we can do more diagnosis and treatment in-house. Not only does this result in more training opportunities for animal are professionals, but it is also less stressful to the animals as it reduces the need to transfer them to other clinics for diagnosis and treatment.

TD Friends of Environment Foundation
3 grants totalling: $15,000
TD Friends of the Environment have been friends to the KTTC since the very beginning, providing numerous grants over the years. Over the past year they have provided us with three grants which have allowed us to buy food, medicine, UV lights and filters for the turtles.

Riverview Park and Zoo
Amount: $2,000 - 4,000
(plus frozen fish!)
One of the original founders of the KTTC, they have served as a drop-off location since the very beginning. They continue to provide support such as managing our membership list. They are continuing their support with additional funds for food and an in-kind donation of frozen fish to feed the turtles!

For more images from this edition visit our flickr account.

Art of the Turtle 2010 Raises $13K!

2010-05-31T15:10:00.041-04:00

Thank you EVERYONE for making The Art of the Turtle a huge success! With our move to a new location last May, the past year has been a time of rapid growth for our small charity. This growth has brought many challenges, but also opened up even more wonderful opportunities.

Along with many other firsts, this year saw us hold our first gala fundraiser. Our committee and volunteers were both excited and a little nervous to be working on such large event. But the enthusiasm and dedication of our many volunteers, sponsors, donors, businesses - and of course the arts community - made May 14th, 2010 a night to remember. Not to mention the 200 guests who came out to show their support and bid on the artwork!

When all was said and done The Art of the Turtle raised over $13, 000 for the KTTC!!!

For media coverage and a complete list of well-deserved thanks...

We thought you might like to see some of the local media coverage of the event:
Peterborough Examiner Photo Album & Video coverage of the event from May 15th.
SNAP Peterborough snaps from their June issue.
CHEX Newswatch @ 5:30 Features KTTC & The Art of the Turtle from May 10.

Photos of the night are also being collected and posted in a flickr album. If you have photos to share please email them to Gina at volunteer@kawarthaturtle.org for us to add to the album - photographers will be credited of course.

The KTTC Board of Directors, Gala Organizing Committee & Staff would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to this AMAZING soirée!

To all the talented & inspiring artists:

Susan Adams
Debra Bannister
Peter Barron
Jean Beettam
Ruth Benns
Lesley Blayney, Madame Damselfly Designs
John Boorman
Johannus Boots
Pauline Bradshaw
Linda Broere
Pam Buckler
Ashley Bunker
Patrick Burns
Elizabeth Burritt
Julia Cameron
Chris Carslake, Dragon's Forge
Sue Carstairs
Iain Carstairs
Nancy Carter
Susan Chow
Marnie Clement
Sandra Cole Burke
Jo Anne Connell Northey
Sue Cowan
Fran Crowe
Lindsay Dixon
Lori Dunn
Robin Eecloo
Alana Farmer, Random Pretty Things
Debi Fitzgerald
Corin Ford Forrester
Frederick Forsey
Sherry Foster
Lynn Gehl
Wendy Gibson
Heather Grant
Zaria Grant-Parsons
Dianne Green
Yvonne Guerin
Mary Harris
Annamarie Hewitt
Lindsay Holton
Heather Home
Judith Hyland
Michael Hyman
Debra Jackson

Don Ketcheson
Corina Kiefert Chester
Anna Kluwe
Randy Knott
Cameron Kuntz
Sue LaGrandeur
Terry Lamont
David Lasenby
Penny Little
Sharon Mak Lehigh
Ed & Darienne McAuley, Singing Dog Studios
Terry McCue
Angela McCumber
Ray McGirl
Kristy McLaren
Ray McNiece
Sue Morley
Catherine Munro
George Mycock
Katie O’Brien
Linda O’Hare
“Opal” (Jennifer Elchuk)
David Parson
Marg Parsons
Delphine Patzel
Carol Peterson
Sheila Potter
Shawn Prins
Micky Renders
Anne Renouf
Blake Richardson
Helen Sheppard
Peter Shewchuk
Bronson Smith
Lois Smith-Brennan
Hartley Stephenson
Stewart Stick
Sue Sydney
Christine Sydney
Freddy Taylor
Deb Thompson
Victoria Wallace
Maeda Welch
Laurel Whistance-Smith
Randy Woods
Melissa Wotherspoon

And to the volunteers who crafted centre pieces:
Brooke Bays, Lori Dunn, Kaitlin Wilson

To our generous sponsors:

To all our hard-working volunteers:

Auctioneer: Keith Monk
Musicians: Jake Dudas; Heather Barker; Christine Annett
Art Installation Team: Rob Hood, Sue Cowan, Yvonne Guerin
Photographer: Keith Borland

To the many many volunteers whose enthusiasm and dedication made the evening a success:

Brooke Bays
Amanda Bennett
Rachel Bentley
Danica Bowen
Leslie Burritt
Stephanie Burritt
Shawn Caldwell
Erin Clarke
Lori Dunn
Kylie Goode
Ali Jackson
Charity Justrabo
Darlene Parsons

Del Patzel
Steve Peterson
April Poppe
Gail Poppe
Kara Randall
Aileen Rapson
Lindsay Robbins
Amanda Spence
Trevor Stevens
Danielle Tassie
Lexie White
Marla Williams

To the many giving businesses who supplied refreshments for the evening:

Amsterdam Brewery for donating beer
and the following restaurants and stores for donating food:

Black Honey
Brio Gusto
Dreams of Beans
Electric City Garden
Maggie’s Garden
M & M Meats
Morello’s Independent

Natas
Porcupine Creek Farms of Marmora
Sticklings Bakery
The Favourite Greek
The Magic Rolling Pin
The Night Kitchen

And to everyone else who helped make our first ever gala fundraiser a night to remember:

Everyone who attended the gala to support the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
Our guest speaker Ontario Biodiversity Chair Jon Grant
County Warden J. Murray Jones; Peterborough Mayor Paul Ayotte
The Link magazine for ongoing coverage
Electric City Garden; Pet Valu Brookdale; Pet Supply Warehouse; Cindy Woolley; Chapters for donating door prizes
Jack-in-the-Box for donating supplies
The Art School of Peterborough; Sue Carstairs for the loan of easels
Titles Bookstore; Pet Supply Warehouse for selling tickets
Moira Bloom and the library staff for all their help
Dave Woodside of Havelock Cottage Books for printing

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts,

~ KTTC Board of Directors:
Tracy McNaught, Lysa Borland, Annita Newell, Kathy Parker, Anne Trimm
~ Gala Planning Committee:
Annita Newell, Anne Trimm, Pegi Eyers, Terry Lamont, Gina Varrin, Kaitlin Wilson, Cindy Woolley
~ Sue Carstairs (KTTC Vet) & Kate Siena (KTTC Volunteer/Education Coordinator)

Art of the Turtle is almost here!

2010-05-07T08:01:00.010-04:00

Watch this CHEX News @ 5:30 episode from Monday, May 10 for a sneak peak at the 100 pieces of artwork that will be up for sale next Friday, May 14th, at "The Art of the Turtle".

Make sure to get your tickets ahead of time
and invite your friends on facebook!

The Art of the Turtle May 14th

2010-04-30T11:21:00.029-04:00

Almost 100 pieces of original artwork -- most featuring turtles -- will be auctioned on May 14 to raise money for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, a hospital dedicated solely to Ontario’s native turtles.

“The Art of the Turtle” event in the auditorium at the Peterborough Public Library, will celebrate World Turtle Day with an array of turtle-themed art, including paintings, sculpture, carvings, textiles and jewelry --all donated by artists from near and far.

Previewing of the art begins at 6 p.m. and the evening will feature live music, guest speakers, refreshments, a silent auction and a live auction.

“This has to be one of the most impressive collections of turtle-themed art in one place,” Annita Newell, fund-raising chair for the KTTC, said.

“The generosity of the arts community in the Peterborough area is wonderful,” she said, adding that artists from as far away as Alberta and England have also donated pieces.

The KTTC, a registered charity run by volunteers, has treated hundreds of injured turtles and released them back to the wild since it opened in 2002.

"I am donating this painting to the KTTC in the hope that it will help the turtle survive," says Freddy Taylor of Curve Lake. "The Turtle is sacred to my people."

Turtle populations are declining around the world, and Ontario is no exception. Seven of the eight native turtle species are listed as at risk; only the painted turtle is not. Roads are major threat and most of the turtles injured or killed by cars are female turtles on their way to nest.

"This turtle scene was a painting I was inspired to do in honour of the fact that my husband always stops traffic to rescue turtles on the road," said Carolyn Hughes, another contributing artist.

A multimedia array of turtle-themed art and craft will be available - oil and acrylic painting, mixed media, pen & ink, printmaking, photography, jewelery, wood carving, miniatures, greeting cards, sculpture, metal, papier mache, "painted rocks", wall hangings, and even a turtle tea cosy, plus other creative surprises!!!

Tickets ($20 for KTTC members, $30 for non members) are available at Titles Bookstore at 379 George St., Peterborough; from Anne Trimm at 705-749-2269 or Tracy McNaught at 905-640-7367; or online at www.kawarthaturtle.org.

For more information or to cover the event, please contact:
Gina Varrin: info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Here is a sampling of some of the fine art and craft by regional artists and artisans that will be in the upcoming gala "The Art of the Turtle":

"Brazillian Tortoises" Pauline Bradshaw, oil on canvas, 8X10

"Bliss" Sue Cowan, giclee print on canvas, beautifully framed, 24X36

"On the Beach" Frederick Forsey, pen and ink with watercolour, 12X20

"Shared Waters" Sherry Foster & Shawn Prints,
giclee print on canvas mounted on stretcher, 20X30

"Flight of the Sea" Sue LaGrandeur, acrylic on canvas, 8X10, with original poetry

"Turtle Spirit" Bronson Smith, acrylic on canvas, 8X10

"Dangerous Crossing" Deb Thompson, acrylic on canvas, 8X10

"Zentangled Turtle" Wendy Gibson, mixed media on canvas, 8X10

We will also have innovative and exciting work by Debi Fitzgerald, Peter Barron, Yvonne Guerin, David Parson, Nancy Carter, Terry Lamont, Blake Richardson, Lesley Blayney, Robin Eecloo, Hartley Stephenson, Victoria Wallace, Pegi Eyers, Ray McGirl, Micky Renders, Ed & Darienne McAuley (Singing Dog Studios), Corina Kiefert Chester, Judy Hyland, Helen Sheppard, Heather Grant, Randy Knott, Jo Anne Connell Northey, Penny Little, Heather Home, Lois Smith-Brennan, Christine Sydney, Debra Bannister, Cameron Kuntz, Jean Beettam, Chris Carslake (Dragon's Forge), Ruth Benns, Fran Crowe, Lynn Gehl, Michael Hyman, Malcolm Schofield, Sue LaGrandeur, Carolyn Hughes, Delphine Patzel and many, many more!!!

Report from the Annual General Meeting

2010-04-26T08:09:00.029-04:00

by J. Routledge

The 2010 Annual General Meeting was very successful and had a great turn-out.

There were a number of presentations including one from Tracy McNaught, updating the group on the many events and advances of 2009.

These changes included the move to our new facility and welcoming Dr. Sue Carstairs to our team, as veterinarian. Dr. Carstairs brings with her a wealth of expertise and we are thrilled to have her.

The move to our new facility on Erskine Avenue is both an opportunity and a challenge. The additional space allows us to perform more onsite treatment and facilitates an increased level of case management.

We are now faced with new expenses, however. We have never been faced with rent and utility payments and this presents a challenge in fundraising. There are also retrofits that should be made to the space so that the hospital is better able to service injured turtles. A lot of fundraising is being done through the sale of merchandise, fundraising events and through access to grant money. It is hoped that by increasing our fundraising efforts, expenses will be covered.

Dr Carstairs gave an informative and entertaining presentation detailing some of the KTTC’s turtle care highlights over the course of 2009. These highlights included the release of rehabilitated turtles to their native habitat, baby turtles being successfully hatched at the trauma centre, and a coordinated effort that resulted in a groundbreaking cataract surgery on one of our very large, very old turtles. It is hoped that, as a result of this surgery, the turtle will be able to be released back into the wild. What a great year!

Julia Phillips, Adopt-A-Pond Coordinator at the Metro Toronto Zoo, gave a presentation on her program and what they hope to achieve.

Adopt-A-Pond is a program designed to help the amphibian and turtle population. It promotes education, research, resource development and citizen science.

Programs that fall under the Adopt-A-Pond umbrella include Ontario Turtle Tally, Frogwatch Ontario, and Urban Turtle Initiative.

The mission of Adopt-A-Pond is to provide citizens “with the tools and resources necessary to create, restore, protect, and conserve wetlands and wetland biodiversity.”

Of the eight native species of turtle in Ontario, seven are at risk or are species of concern. Adopt-A-Pond encourages the public to do what they can to protect turtles, their nests and their habitat and to go to the Adopt-A-Pond website and record any turtle sightings so that a population record can be established. www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond

We also had a presentation from Little RES Q, which is a rescue organization for unwanted pet turtles. They prevent non-native turtles from being released into the wild and work hard to find homes for unwanted pets. Little RES Q also works to increase public education about turtles so that people make informed decisions when purchasing a pet.

The Red Eared Slider is the most common breed of pet turtle, in this area. It is not native to Ontario, but comes from the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico. They are sold as small babies and people often don’t realized how big they grow or how long they live (Red Eared Sliders can live up to 40 years in captivity). They are now being spotted as a feral species in the wild in Ontario.

On behalf of the board Gina Varrin recognized volunteers with five years of hard work with the KTTC under their belts. Congratulations to: Cathy Dixon, Julie Henry, Kristy Hiltz, Laurie Kryshka, Ali Jackson, Steve Peterson, Roxanne St. Martin, Brian Short, Jack Sisson, Stewart Stick, Danielle Tassie, Cindy Woolley, Sam Woolley.

At the end of the meeting, a new board was elected. The members of the new board are: Tracy McNaught (returning), Annita Newell (returning), Lysa Borland (returning), Anne Trimm (returning) and welcome to Kathy Parker who is new to the board.
Last year was very successful and we look forward to continued growth and progress through 2010!

Turtle Blogs

2010-04-04T11:01:00.007-04:00

The KTTC is always looking for volunteers to contribute to its newsletter and blog. This post was written by new KTTC volunteer Laura Gardner. If you are interested in writing newsletter or blog articles for the please contact us at info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Here are some other turtle blogs we've come across that focus on the preservation of freshwater or marine turtles. Many of these organizations are moving toward using social networking sites such as Facebook to further promote their cause. If you know of another turtle blog that we should list here pass please let us know!

Turtle Survival Alliance
http://www.turtlesurvival.org/blog - also on Facebook
Founded in 2001, this organization works with other groups globally on a range of turtle conservation projects, targeting the most critically endangered species. It is involved with a variety of different partners ranging from zoos, private breeders, veterinarians to turtle facilities and rescue groups.

Turtle Foundation
http://www.turtle-foundation.org/NewsWeblog/tabid/70/BlogID/12/Default.aspx - also on Facebook
Founded in 2000, this international organization works to protect sea turtles in selected countries where these turtles are at risk. This site contains three blogs: one for general news and two about news from two conservation projects in Cape Verde and Indonesia.

American Tortoise Rescue
http://www.tortoise.com - also on Facebook
Founded in 1990, the American Tortoise Rescue seeks to protect turtles and tortoises. It annually sponsors World Turtle Day, an event held on May 23. Its web site contains mostly links to external news sites but the Facebook page has been more active and up-to-date.

Asian Turtle Conservation Network
http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/library/news.htm
Active since 2003, ATCN serves primarily as a networking body for individuals and bodies working in Asia to protect turtles. Posts include news from other turtle organizations, from news outlets and even clips from other sites such as YouTube.

Seaturtle.org
http://www.seaturtle.org/blog/
This site’s main purpose is to organize information about sea turtles worldwide and make it accessible in one place. It also supports others in research and conservation.

Turtle Hospital of Florida
http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/
The blog on this site is very active, having an archive dating back to 1999. Some of the most interesting posts show photos of individual turtle surgeries and their rehabilitation. Along the right side of the main page there is a long list by name of the hospital’s patients.

Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group
http://www.ttpg.org/ - also on Facebook
While its primary web site does not have a blog, it is worth noting that it has an active Facebook page with a lot of news and commentary relating to its activities. It is an organization that is involved primarily in captive breeding.

World Water Day

2010-03-23T00:49:00.002-04:00

The KTTC celebrated World Water Day at an event co-hosted by the Canadian Canoe Museum and the Lakeland Alliance.

See if you can spot our volunteers in the CHEX news footage of the event:
http://www.chextv.com/videos/Newswatch_WorldWaterDay.WMV

KTTC is hiring!

2010-03-15T09:47:00.003-04:00

The KTTC is very excited to announce that we are hiring!

We are looking for a hardworking, reliable, enthusiastic individual to coordinate volunteers and deliver outreach activities from our turtle rehabilitation centre in Peterborough, Ontario. The position is best suited to someone able to work independently under the direction of the board of directors, outreach coordinator, and veterinarian of record.

For the full job description and list of qualifications please visit our website:
http://kawarthaturtle.org/volunteer-coordinator-job-ad.pdf

T-shirts & more for sale online!

2010-03-15T09:43:00.002-04:00

The KTTC launched its online store back in December, selling calendars and bumper stickers to the holiday crowd. Since then we’ve added memberships & t-shirts – and there’s more to come so visit often!

Sierra Club fighting for turtle habitat

2010-03-12T15:58:00.002-05:00

Sierra Club Canada has launched acampaign to stop the Terry Fox Extension in Ottawa and save the Blanding'sTurtle.

Please visit their website for more info or to sign the petition:
http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/endangered-species/save-blandings-turtle?1085152489=1

2009 intake season at KTTC a success thanks to partnering clinics and centres

2010-02-25T19:18:00.019-05:00

2009 was a very exciting year for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre (KTTC). Although we were forced to relocate at the height of turtle nesting season, we still managed to admit over 65 turtles with the help of other wildlife rehabilitators, the Riverview Park & Zoo, and a dedicated crew of volunteer "turtle taxi-ers".

Initial treatments were performed at partnering centres, including Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC), former KTTC vet Kristy Hiltz''s Sherbrook Heights Animal Hospital, Cavan Hills Vet Clinic, Ontario SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, and Bowmanville Vet Clinic. Once our new centre was ready and the patients were stabilized, the turtles were transferred back to KTTC for long term care. Many were released in the summer or autumn, but those with more serious injuries are over-wintering at the centre, ready to be released this spring.

These alliances with other wildlife rehabilitation centres were vital to the KTTC, without them we wouldn't have been able to admit any turtles this past year. But the collaboration also helped build capacity at partnering centres, giving them an opportunity to get more experience with turtle rehabilitation. One of TWC's turtles received a cataract removal from veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Joseph Wolfer, with the assistance of Dr. Carstairs (who works both at the KTTC and TWC), as well as Dr. Heather Reid, TWC’s head vet, and TWC Registered Veterinary Technician Maureen Lilley. The procedure made national news, as it was the first reported cataract surgery performed on a fresh water turtle.

(photo credit: Scott Wight, Toronto Wildlife Centre)

Congratulations Jon Montgomery!!!

2010-02-23T08:06:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Jon Montgomery - the man who raced to Olypmic gold with the help of his turtle totem animal!

Skeleton team leaves no shaman stone unturned

Spring 2010 Events

2010-02-22T10:13:00.015-05:00

KTTC Annual General Meeting
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Riverview Park & Zoo Orientation Centre
Each year the KTTC has an annual general meeting to update its members on the activities of the past year, as well as plans for the coming year. 2009 was an eventful year for us, with a move to a new centre and a new vet we will have lots of news to share at this year's meeting. The annual general meeting is also necessary for the members vote in a board of directors, review and approve financial statements and a budget for the coming year.

See the agenda for more details, including directions to the zoo and guest speakers!

To become a member of the KTTC please purchase a membership, now available through the online store: http://www.kawarthaturtle.org/online_store.php

Earth Day Celebration: The Human Pipeline
Sunday, April 18, 2010
1:00-4:30pm
Picnic Shelter, Millbrook millpond
For more info or to register: www.socm.ca
Speak Out Cavan Monaghan is hosting an event in celebration of Earth Day. Join them to build a 12km human pipeline that will follow the route of the proposed Millbrook Water Diversion Project. Aerial shots will be taken and submitted to media. Entertainment, food and fun rain or shine. The KTTC will have a tent and information booth at the event, and will be selling KTTC t-shirts and bumper stickers.

Earth Day Celebration: Spring Nature Hike
Sunday, April 25, 2010
10am-noon
Marshland Centre, Lakefield
http://www.smithennismorelakefield.on.ca/en/townshiphall/LakefieldTrail.asp
Every spring in celebration of Earth Day, the Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee sponsors a Spring Nature Hike along the Lakefield Trail. A local naturalist will guide hikers along the portion of the Lakefield Trail that follows the southern shores of Katchewanooka Lake and into the Image the Marsh marshland. KTTC volunteers will also be on hand to give presentations about turtles in the kawarthas and how to help conserve them. Meet at the Marshland Centre at the Lakefield Beach and start off with a back bacon breakfast. It is a free family event.

Green Expo 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
10 am until 4 pm
Evinrude Centre, Peterborough, Ontario
Admission: $5 (children under 12 free!)
http://www.greenexpo.ca/
The seventh annual Green EXPO will draw close to 100 exhibitors and and include new features that educate in an entertaining and unique way about green living.

Green EXPO Youth Challenge that will showcase the efforts students are making to green their school or community.
Local Artisans showcasing their works of art using re-using products.
Greatly expanded Local Food area featuring farms, farmer's markets, CSA's, caterers and more.
A wide variety of new and unique green products in the exhibit area.
Fresh and interesting topics included in the line-up of presentations.

The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre will have a booth set-up and we'd like to invite you all to come out and learn about turtles, or show your support for the centre with the purchase of a KTTC t-shirt or bumper sticker.

Art of the Turtle Gala
Friday, May 14, 2010
Peterborough Public Library
View the poster for full details.

The Art of the Turtle auction will showcase a diversity of original turtle art created by artists from near and far. A contemporary symbol of a healthy ecosystem and our Mother Earth, turtles are a universally-loved creature of the wild and the subject of many stories & myths worldwide.

Tickets are $20 for members, $30 for non-members and are availble at Titles Bookstore (379 George Street North) or online at http://www.kawarthaturtle.org/online_store.php .

Contact fundraising@kawarthaturtle.org for more information.

Winter 2010 Events

2010-01-17T11:24:00.011-05:00

Camp Kawartha Environment Centre Open House
2505 Pioneer Rd, Peterborough
Saturday, January 30, 2010
12:00 - 5:00pm
On Saturday January 30th Camp Kawartha along with the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, Transition Town Peterborough & Sustainable Trent will host an Open House from 12 noon to 5 pm at the new Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. Drop by any time to take a tour of the facility, participate in fun interactive activities in and around the building or bring you own reusable cup and enjoy a hot drink in one of Canada’s most sustainable buildings.
See the flyer for more info and a map to the site.

The Tough Road for Ontario's Turtles
Presented by Gina Varrin of the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
at Ruthven Park National Historic Site
243 Haldimand Hwy. #54, Cayuga, ON
Sunday, January 31, 2010
1:00 - 3:00pm
Ontario's turtles are dissappearing. Learn why and find out how to help.
See the poster for more info.

Discover Nature on Family Day
Celebrate Family Day with Ontario Nature and Ontario Stewardship on Monday, February 15, 2010. The KTTC will be giving a presentation in the afternoon. Come on out to learn how to identify the 8 species of turtle that occur in Ontario, the threats they face, and what you can do to help slow or reverse declines!
For more information: http://peterboroughnature.org/media/2010DiscoverNature.pdf

Lindsay Woodlot Conference
Lindsay Exhibition & Fair Grounds
Friday, February 19, 2010
The KTTC will have an information display - and t-shirts for sale - at the woodlot conference this year!

Trent CCBE Knowledge in Action Forum
Friday March 19, 2010
1:00-3:00pm
All Saints Anglican Church, 235 Rubidge St. in Peterborough
The Forum is a showcase of community-based research projects conducted by students of the Trent Centre for Community-Based Education. The KTTC is hosting two students this year - one is establishing an archive of turtle DNA, the other is researching the ethics of involving live animals in educational programming.
For more information: http://www.trentcentre.ca/programs-and-services/knowledge-in-action-forum

World Water Day
Monday March 22, 2010
11:00am- 2:30pm
Canoe Museum in the Education Room.
The theme for the event is ‘Clean Water for a Healthy Community: Caring for Water from the Watershed to Tap’. The purpose of the day is to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the many organisations working locally to protect the quality of our water. Please see the attached draft agenda for an overview of the day.

Adopt-a-Pond Turtle Workshop
Monday March 23 & 24, 2010
Toronto Zoo, Scarborough
The Adopt-A-Pond Programme at the Toronto Zoo will be hosting its biannual workshop for individuals interested in Ontario's Turtle Species at Risk. This workshop will have two primary goals, the first is to examine the current issues impacting the sustainability of turtle populations in Ontario, with topics including primary threats, life history features, and a special session on snapping turtles. The second goal of the workshop is to discuss the importance and need to relay this valuable information to the public in effective and motivating ways.
For more information or to register please visit:
http://www.torontozoo.com/AdoptAPond/turtlemgmt10.asp

Memberships available through the KTTC Shell Shop

2009-12-24T10:49:00.016-05:00

Looking for the perfect last-minute gift for the nature-lover in your life? How about a KTTC membership? http://kawarthaturtle.org/online_store.php#memberships

KTTC Memberships
Individual/Family $25.00
Student $15.00
Corporate $100.00

Members will receive a membership card and newsletter updating them onthe operations of the KTTC. Members also receive a vote in how thecentre is run at our Annual General Meeting each spring. Mostimportantly members will be part of a team dedicated to the conservationof these important and vulnerable species.

If you are purchasing the membership on behalf of someone else please enter their full name andmailing address under "Add special instructions to the seller" or let us know by emailing us at info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Patient Updates 2009

2009-11-28T12:29:00.022-05:00

Although it's been quite some time since the emergency room section of our website has been updated, we though our readers might appreciate an update on a few of our patients. Our new vet, Dr. Carstairs, has provided the following updates and photos of some of our patients.

Monster

Monster was one of the first turtles to be transferred to TWC via the KTTC taxi service this past summer. He was one of the largest turtles taken in this year, although we do have another one that is 5kg larger! He had severe wounds from being hit by a car, and was treated extensively at TWC and has since been transferred to KTTC where he will finish healing, to be released in the Spring.

Obama

This Painted Turtle suffered a fractured plastron, which is is the lower shell.

Blanding's Turtle

This Blandings turtle was brought to the Toronto Wildlife centre by another wildlife centre. Sue and the staff there repaired his very serious wounds, and he has been recovering there since. His carapace (upper shell) was fractured in several places, and he also suffered a practure of the bridge (where the upper shell and lower shell attach). He will likely stay at TWC for full recovery.

Jaw Repair

Fractured jaws are a common injury at the KTTC. Snapping Turtles cannot pull themselves into their shell, so their only defense from predators while on land is their "snap". Unfortunately, this defense does not work against cars. This snapper was hit by a car in the Peterborough area, and was taken to the Toronto Wildlife centre, where Dr. Carstairs anesthetized him and performed surgery to repair the lower jaw that was badly broken. He recovered at TWC and then was transferred to the KTTC for further healing. Thanks to grant money received from the Shell Environmental Fund, and the TD Friends of the Environment Fund, the KTTC now has the ability to perform surgery onsite. Previously we had to rely on participating vet offices for x-rays and to perform surgery. But this fellow will get his stitches out onsite over winter!

Pinky & Jo Jo

Baby turtles are no surprise at the centre, but always a welcome and happy event. The majority of turtles hit by cars every spring are females on their way to lay their eggs. Many of them never make it to their nesting site, but do end up passing the eggs while in the care of the KTTC. Our volunteers carefully collect the eggs as they're laid, an incubate them, carefully noting which turtle each egg came from so they can be released at the right location. Sometimes, the mother turtle does not survive her injuries, as was the case with Pinky and Jo Jo's mother. HOwever, since turtles do not provide any parental care for their offspring once the eggs are laid, these hatchlings stilll have a decent chance of survival - much better than if their mother had not been brought to us for treatment.

Graham

Hopefully by spring these turtles will all be ready to go home, like this fellow who was releasede this past spring. Graham was brought in, during the summer of 2008, by the Metro Zoo. They had wired his jaw to fix a fracture. He stayed the winter at KTTC, and Dr. Carstairs removed the wire at the Toronto Wildlife Centre in spring 2009.

Turtle Crawl Walk-a-thon a Success!

2009-11-16T11:11:00.031-05:00

This past Saturday the 1st annual Turtle Crawl Walk-a-thon raised a grand total of $2, 237.20 for the KTTC - That’s almost enough to cover our operating expenses for the month! Congratulations to event organizer Brooke Bays for a job well done, and thanks to all who came out or made pledges to the walkers.

Congratulations to prize winners:

Top Pledge - Tracy McNaught ($750!)
Runner Up - Fletcher Boultbee ($125!)
Second Runner Up - Leslie Burritt ($85!)
Most laps - Kelsey Powell (12 laps)
Best Costume - Paul Schortemeyer

Thank you also to:
o Don on the Job of Omemee for donating a port-a-loo for the event
o The Spill for providing hot chocolate
o Trent Animal Science Club for yummy bake sale treats
(especially president Rachel’s turtle-shaped cookies!)
o Canada World Youth Volunteers who helped run the event
o SNAP and the Examiner for covering the walk

Read the Examiner article here: Boosting turtle trauma centre

“For her birthday last week, Arisa Brar, 13, asked her friends to forego gifts and instead put their money toward pledges for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre.” Read on...
Watch a short video clip on the Examiner's Website.

Check out the photos posted on Twitpic

Visit us on flickr for more photos from the event…

Summer/Fall 2009 Newsletter

2009-11-06T22:54:00.024-05:00

In this issue:

Moving on to a Bigger and Better Space
We Have No Choice but to Succeed!
Turtle Taxi
Many Thanks!
Spotlight on the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
Turtles, Citizen Science, and YOU!

Moving on to a Bigger and Better Space
By Danielle Tassie

Have you ever gone house hunting for a place that holds 70 turtles? If so, you’ll understand the daunting task that faced the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre’s board of directors this past winter and spring. After four years in a very generously donated space, it was time to move on. The existing building was needed for another business, and with a new rehabber on staff and an onsite hospital area in the works, the Turtle Centre needed to find a bigger home.
Generally quiet animals, turtles do have certain needs – like a good water supply, lots of electrical outlets (for lights and heaters) – plus a space that can accommodate surgery and other medical treatments, a kitchen area, storage, and space for volunteers. As a non-profit organization that relies on private donations, the ideal budget is cheap to free.

Board members searched long and hard for a building that met at least most of these requirements. Once it was found – a two story warehouse in Peterborough’s south end –preparations for moving began. Paul McLeod (property manager of 724 Erskine) deserves a big hand for getting our new building turtle-ready under tight timelines!

The board is grateful for the support of several indivduals who assisted with our search and securing the new facility. Doug Lytle, a commercial real estate agent with Century 21, advised us on finding an appropriate property and deciphering lease arrangements. Lawyers Tracey Henry, Ian Attridge, Roger Howson and John Bartley all offered free legal advice on our move.

We would also like to thank The Trent Severn Waterway for offering an alternate space. We were unable to take them up on their offer due to timing and space requirements. We all know how hard it can be to find enough friends & family willing to give up a weekend to help move. But when it’s time for turtles to move house, it turns out that people are more than willing to lend a hand.

Moving day was Saturday May 2nd, and over 25 people from Peterborough, Norwood, Oshawa, Toronto and everywhere in between, came out to help. From morning until well past midnight, volunteers cleaned out the old centre, moved tanks, filters, carried impossibly heavy shelving, medical supplies, and worked tirelessly on setting up turtle tanks at the new centre. It was still too early in the year to release last year’s patients, so a few lucky volunteers even got to drive containers full of Snapping, Painted, Map, and Blanding’sTurtles across town.
Moving day went so smoothly because of the help of so many volunteers – so many people willing to spend their Saturday supporting the turtles and the KTTC!

Local businesses also pitched in, and thanks go out to:
* Peterborough Automotive and Machine LTD
* Breathe Easy Duct Cleaning
* Prentice Lift Truck Inc.

Thanks are also due to Kip Parker for travelling from Toronto and, not only bringing us all a delicious lunch, working from morning to night on setting up the headstarting room for the Wood Turtle Recovery Project.

The KTTC would like to extend a huge thank you to John Burman and Scott Andersen of Burman & Fellows Group – for their generous donation of space and utlities during the past 4 years, and for their help setting up the new centre. Their generosity has made it possible for the KTTC to treat and care for so many turtles over the years.
In the midst of the move, the KTTC also proudly welcomed new license holder and veterinarian Sue Carstairs. Sue is busy setting up a hospital area in the new centre, so that more of the surgery and medical care of turtles can be done in-house, and the KTTC can increase the number of turtles that receive care at the centre each year.

The big move coincided with turtle nesting season - the Turtle Centre’s busiest time for intaking and treating injured turtles. Until everything is up and running and the new hospital area is completed, intakes have not been possible. The Turtle Centre would like to thank the wildlife rehab centres who have been increasing their intake of injured turtles (particularly the Toronto Wildlife Centre, and the Midland SPCA), and the local KTTC Turtle Taxi drivers, who have worked hard at getting local turtles further afield for surgery, and back to Peterborough for their long term care.

It is a time of upheaval, but also of great excitement and new possibilities for the Turtle Centre. A new building lease, staff and expanding programs means more costs for the KTTC. If you would like to support the centre and its work caring for injured turtles, and spreading the word about turtles in Ontario, please visit our website to become a member, or you can donate or online at www.canadahelps.org (search for Kawartha Turtle) or by mailing a cheque to KTTC c/o Riverview Park and Zoo, PO Box 4125 Peterborough ON K9J 6Z5.

We Have No Choice But to Succeed!
By Annita Newell and the dedicated volunteers of the KTTC Fundraising Committee

It’s the perennial question for charities – how do we find the funds to keep our work going?

For the KTTC, that became a more immediate and urgent question this spring when our rent-free status ended. We now face the prospect of having to find a lot of money to pay market rent for our turtle hospital and rehab centre. To put it in real terms – we were paying zero dollars for our former building; now we must find $1,600 each month for rent!

But, true to the indomitable spirit of the KTTC since its birth, we have looked at the mountain and started the climb with our eyes on the top.

In short order we have reorganized our financial goals, formed a strong, active and keen core fund-raising committee and come up with at least two dozen great ideas to raise money -- from the most modest to most ambitious.

Thank you to Michael Dumas who donated a beautiful giclee print for the KTTC to raffle. The draw was held on May 22 at the Riverview Park and Zoo. Gary Winter was the lucky winner. The raffle raised over $800 for the KTTC! Thanks to all who bought and sold tickets!

Here are a few of the projects we have undertaken:

* We raffled off a print donated by well-known area wildlife artist Michael Dumas
* We have new T-shirts for sale, designed by Lindsey Woodcock of Bowmanville High School and produced by Ricart’s of Peterborough.
* We have ordered our 2010 calendars.
* We are in the process of applying for several grants to help defray costs.
* We are embarking on a membership and donation drive, including a push for more corporate support.
* We are planning a major event for May 2010 to mark World Turtle Day.

Our fund-raising committee meets regularly to assess our progress, set goals and review our long list of fund-raising ideas. We are constantly on the alert for new and innovative ways to find funds and to give our supporters “turtle conservation value” for their money. There is ALWAYS room for more ideas; more volunteers and more public exposure.

Our members are our greatest asset and we are counting on you this year especially to help us extend our reach by doubling our membership. We have about 70 members on record. If each of those 70 people recruited one other member, we would raise enough money for one month’s rent and utilities (about $2,000). That’s a pretty good return for output, when you consider that the work is spread among 70 people – about five minutes of time and effort out of a month for each person.

A closing note: We have succeeded in keeping turtle care front and centre despite financial and logistical changes and challenges that would have stopped many organizations in their tracks. We have never lost sight of our core mandate – helping injured native turtles, and we promise we will keep that responsibility clear and consistent.

We have no choice but to succeed.

Turtle Taxi
By Gina Varrin

This spring the KTTC was faced with many challenges – as a result of moving to a new facility and taking on a new vet we had no hospital equipment on site. The timing couldn’t have been worse, because without hospital equipment we cannot provide emergency care to new patients at the centre. As turtle nesting season approached, several supporters came forward to help us come up with a solution. The Toronto Wildlife Centre and Midland Wildlife Centre both offered to intake and treat any turtles that we could get to them, and several amazing individuals and families volunteered to found the Turtle Taxi program.

As turtles were dropped off at the Riverview Park and Zoo volunteer drivers were contacted to transport the turtles to the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC). Many drivers volunteered to be on call one day a week, and several more made themselves available as back-ups. The Turtle Taxi made it possible to consistently transport turtles from Peterborough to the veterinarians at TWC in under 24 hours. This summer over 50 turtles made the trek to the TWC! Once out of critical condition they were transported back to Peterborough for long term care at the KTTC’s new facility, and will be released as soon as they have fully recovered.

Anne Trimm, the Taxi coordinator, would like to extend a great big thank you to everyone who helped make the Turtle Taxi Program a success – we couldn’t have done it without you!
* The volunteer drivers, who gave their time, energy, and fuel to transport turtles to Toronto
* Jack Sisson and the staff at the Riverview Park and Zoo for being a drop-off location (for the eighth year in a row!!!)
* Toronto Wildlife Centre for treating our patients, and the Midland Wildlife Centre for offering help in our time of need
* Annita Newell, for coordinating the taxi while Anne was on vacation
* The many concerned citizens who took the time to drop injured turtles off to us.

MANY Thanks!
By Gina Varrin

First of all, we’d like to thank our members for all your support this year. We had record attendance at our Annual General Meeting, and also received a record number of proxy voting forms from many who couldn’t make it in person. Those of you who were at the AGM provided excellent feedback regarding our finances, fundraising, and other ways we can engage members in the future. Many longtime members have begun volunteering on fundraising projects with the newly formed fundraising committee!

A special thank you from the KTTC to:
~ Our Auditor Jan Jamieson
~ Former board member Bill Cole for advice on fundraising and financial matters

Thank you Dr. Kristy Hiltz for your role in founding the centre and for years of hard work as a volunteer vet! We wish you all the best with your new practice, Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital!

Creative Contributions
Our supporters have been coming up all kinds of creative ways to raise money for the KTTC. The Nonchalants a highshool band from Oshawa raised $100 for the KTTC at a benefit concert last summer.
For more about the band visit: http://www.myspace.com/thethenonchalants

Grateful for our Grantors:
We’re pleased to announce that the KTTC has been awarded a grant for $4,975 from the Shell Environmental Fund for hospital equipment. We’ve also received a $5,000 grant from the TD Friends of the Environment Fund!

Spotlight on the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
By Jennifer Andrews

This month the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre’s star is the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica). As of 2002, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) had listed the Northern Map Turtle as a species of special concern. The Northern Map Turtle is also protected under Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, which means that the turtle is 'protected from being hunted, trapped, held in captivity or traded without a license'. Nests are also protected from destruction, disturbance, or alteration.

Map turtles are a shy and wary species, quickly diving into the water when approached, making them difficult to spot. So how do you know if it is a map turtle? The carapace is an olive to brown tone with light yellow markings resembling canals and waterways on a map; hence it is called a map turtle. These markings are brightest on juveniles and fade as the turtles mature. The body (head, neck and legs) is a dark olive green with yellow longitudinal stripes, which may sometimes look somewhat green. Each turtle also has a yellow spot behind the eye. Male turtles reach an average carapace length of 14cm where females reach a carapace length of 25cm long.

The Northern Map Turtle can be found around the Great Lakes Basin and the St. Lawrence River in both the northeastern United States and Canada. This turtle will reach its most northern limit in the south of Ontario and in the southwest part of Quebec. Northern Map turtles prefer larger bodies of water, but can be found in lake, rivers, ponds and creeks. They prefer habitats with plenty of aquatic vegetation, muddy bottoms and slow moving currents. Since the Northern Map Turtle is nocturnal and can be slightly active at dawn and dusk, they need basking sites where they can spend most of the day sleeping. Their primary food source is mussels, but will also eat other things occasionally. Hibernation occurs, although these turtles are slow to hibernate and my be seen wandering under the ice of frozen lakes after early cold snaps, in October and finishes in April. Hibernation is a group event because breeding occurs during this period of time. During June and July females will then travel far inland to lay their clutches of 10 to 16 eggs, with hatchlings emerging in August to September.

The Northern Map Turtle’s distribution coincides with the most populated and developed areas in Ontario and Quebec. The loss of habitat and the use of the waterways for recreation are two of the most substantial threats to this species. Also, the control of water levels and flow may be flooding nesting sites and changing the environment, which these turtles have adapted to. Due to the eating habits of the Northern Map Turtle, they are very susceptible to the accumulation of heavy metals and other toxins. Finally, just like many other species of turtle, it may also be found in the wildlife trade as either food or as pets.

By having the Northern Map Turtle under ‘special concern’ by COSEWIC makes us aware of the impact that we are having on not only this species of turtle, but other species as well. By understanding this impact we can make a conscious effort to conserve what habitat these animals have left but to appreciate what amazing creatures they really are. Hopefully, we can make a difference.

Turtles, Citizen Science, and YOU!
By Peter Kowalski

What do you think of when you hear the term “Citizen Science”? The term citizen science refers to work done by volunteers, which usually don’t have formal scientific training on projects involving scientific study - often in their own backyards. Didn’t spend 4 years and $25k on a degree in Biology and still want to help out? No problem! Citizen science projects allow for anyone with drive and passion to help out.

Citizen science can involve observation, assisting in the collection of data as well as even managing data. One of the most successful and well-known citizen science projects is the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, which in its most recent addition had over 1.2 million individual breeding bird records and a total of 150,000 volunteer hours logged from people all over Ontario just like you! These records have come together to create an extremely comprehensive record of bird distributions.

A great thing about citizen science projects is that projects can engage communities to help out and learn more about their local environment, as well as science. But the positives don’t just stop there. As you could probably guess, scientific monitoring can be very expensive– paying researchers, buying equipment, vehicles and fuel costs a lot of money. With the help of citizens, scientific studies can be conducted over a long period of time and over a large area for a fraction of the cost!

There are citizen science projects in Ontario related to turtles too! Some notable projects are the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary Atlas, the Trent-Severn Waterway’s Turtle Hotline and the Toronto Zoo’s Turtle Tally. All of these projects involve citizens of Ontario reporting the turtles they happen to see – while on the water, at the cottage, on the side of the road, even unfortunate road mortality is important to report.

All of these programs report their turtle sightings to the NHIC, which uses the information to create detailed distribution maps of the province's amphibians and reptiles for a project known as the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary Atlas, much like the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, so the same sighting only needs to be reported once. However, The Trent-Severn’s Turtle Hotline sightings are also used to determine areas that could be further researched and protected along the waterway. So if the turtle you saw is on the waterway, call their hotline!

When reporting a turtle, it is best to try to identify it to the best of your ability. If you are unsure of the species, describe it in your report. It’s a good idea to include a photo whenever possible so that the species identification can be confirmed by an expert. The location is the next most important thing to report. The more specific you can get, the better (so break out that GPS!). The date and behaviour of the turtle(s) sighted is also important to report. Also, if you are specifically looking for turtles and can’t find any, it is important to know as well.

Citizen Science is an important and useful way to find out where turtle habitat is, so we can better protect and manage these areas. And best of all, it’s a lot of fun to do with family and friends!

Turtle Crawl Walk-a-thon

2009-10-14T07:15:00.017-04:00

Our first walk-a-thon will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 10am until noon at Nicholl's Oval in Peterborough, Ontario. Each participant will receive a token of participation and thanks from the KTTC. Light refreshments will be provided and prizes will be awarded for top pledge, most laps, and best turtle costume.

Our goal is to help raise a portion of the cost of operating the new centre and the care of our ‘turtle patients’.

Download Pledge Form & Walk-a-thon Rules now!

Contact us to preregister or if you have any questions.

Download, print, and post the event flyer!

Turtle Videos

2009-10-07T18:29:00.003-04:00

The KTTC now has a YouTube account to chronicle our rehabilitation effort!

Snapping Turtle sauntering around the centre

Young Map Turtles being released into the wild

Other videos of interest:

Our Incredible World Snapper Profile

Hinterland Who's Who Snapping Turtle Webisode

Turtles In the News

2009-10-07T18:28:00.002-04:00

Social networking sites take the green message online
Peterborough Examiner Article, Wed Oct 7 2009
Columnist from Green-Up profiles local environmental organizations using social networking to get their message out, including a mention of the KTTC Twitter account!
http://preview.tinyurl.com/green-networking

Kids for Turtles: Training future environmental leaders
Tillsonburg News, Wed Oct 7 2009
An article about the Kids for Turtle movement in other parts of the province.
http://tinyurl.com/tillsonburg-k4t

Turtles, snakes get their own eco-crossing
The Record, Wed Sep 30, 2009
A turtle tunnel is built in Cambridge Ontario.
http://tinyurl.com/camb-crossing

Turtles put Burnaby dredging plan on hold
The Province, Wed Sep 30, 2009
Dredging in Burnaby on hold due to presence of Endangered Western Painted Turtle
http://tinyurl.com/BC-dredging

Saving Turtles from the wrong side of the tracks
NPR, Sep 25, 2009
A citizen scientist builds tiny bridges to help turtles cross railroad tracks.
http://tinyurl.com/turtle-bridges

Wild T.O. : When critters collide with civilization, these professionals are there to help
The Toronto Sun, Tue Sep 8 2009
Story and video about the Toronto Wildlife Centre, who have been graciously admitting and treating our turtles all season long!
http://tinyurl.com/critter-collisions

Autumn Events

2009-08-26T13:32:00.011-04:00

Prairie Days
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Alderville Community Centre
near Roseneath
The day promises to provide fun and educational activities for children and adults and will include: prairie/savanna walking tours of the Alderville First Nation Black Oak Savanna as well as bus tours to and a walk-about around unique prairie restoration sites managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. There will be live music, games, crafts, face painting and nature demonstrations. Several environmental and educational information booths (including the KTTC!) and this year, for the first time ever, there will be prairie plants for you to purchase and plant in your home garden.
This event is FREE. Come on out and have a great day and learn about this beautiful and imperilled ecosystem.
View the event poster for more details
Contact Janine or Alison at savannatours@eagle.ca for more information.

Lansdowne Place
Sunday, October 11, 2009 (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Lansdowne Place, Peterborough
The KTTC will have an information display set up - come on out and learn how to identify the 8 species of turtle in Ontario and how you can help with their conservation! We'll also have t-shirts, bumper stickers, and this year's endangered reptile calendars on sale - all proceeds will go toward turtle care at our new location.

Why Our Turtles are in Trouble

2009-08-14T09:30:00.007-04:00

The Toronto Star published a feature on turtle rehabilitation today!
Read the article

Remarkable Reptiles Weekend Aug 29 & 30

2009-08-14T09:25:00.005-04:00

Ontario Nature invites you to attend the "Remarkable Reptiles Weekend", hosted by the Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park, August 29th and 30th, 2009. Join us for the weekend to learn about the unique lives of reptiles, their decline in Ontario, and stewardship and conservation solutions that you can become involved in.

The weekend will feature keynote presentations about reptile ecology, research and conservation in Ontario, programs by Sciensational Sssnakes!! that will let you get up-close and personal with live Ontario reptiles and reptile and amphibian hikes in and around the National Park. Several of Ontario's reptile conservation groups will be present to answer your questions and provide information about how to get involved locally. You will also learn how to identify reptiles and amphibians in your area and report your observations to Ontario Nature's new Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas program.

The event is free and a free BBQ lunch will be provided both days from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm. The reptile and amphibian hikes will leave from the Parks Canada Visitor Centre at 9:30 am on both days. Participation in the hikes will be limited to the first 20 people that sign up for each day. Other events run from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. For more information about the weekend or to sign up for one of the hikes, please e-mail Joe Crowley at joec@ontarionature.org by August 26th .

WWF petition for marine turtles

2009-08-06T08:06:00.005-04:00

A message from the WWF that will interest turtle enthusiasts:

Marine turtles are a globally important species, but the number of turtles has plummeted and some populations are now on the brink of extinction.

Help save turtles by supporting WWF's campaign and sign the petition today.

Four out of the 7 species of marine turtles land and lay their eggs on beaches in Malaysia; Leatherbacks, Hawksbills, Olive Ridleys and Green turtles.

They face many threats, including the practice of consuming turtle eggs, becoming accidentally caught in fishing gear, pollution and the illegal trade of turtles and their parts.

But key to all this is the fact that the laws to protect turtles in Malaysia are inadequate. The current Federal law is limited and, under the Constitution, individual states have the authority to make their own laws on turtles. This means that the laws vary from state to state, have loopholes and do not effectively protect turtles and their eggs.

Join WWF and call on the Malaysian government to give turtles the protection they need.

Thank you,
Dato' Dr. Dionysius Sharma
Executive Director / CEO of WWF-Malaysia

Find more about this action on WWF's site.

Examiner reports on KTTC fundraising efforts

2009-08-01T23:18:00.003-04:00

Peterborough Examiner columnist Kelly McGillis included a piece about the KTTC's new shirts in her fundraising column yesterday. The local media have been very supportive in helping us keep the community informed of the many changes we've been going through this year. Since we have now moved to a location where we need to pay rent our operating costs have increased considerably... This means there will be lots of fundraising news to come in the near future!

Read "Turtle Trauma Centre T-shirts" article here

Turtle Display at Riverview Park and Zoo

2009-07-21T19:42:00.004-04:00

For the second summer in a row the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough has set up an exhibit to spread the word about the amphibian crisis. This year they have invited the KTTC to set up a display about Turtles of the Kawarthas. Come on down to the Dobbin Building (aka the old monkey house) to learn how to identify the five species of turtle you may come across in the Kawarthas! Be sure to submit your turtle sightings to Adopt-a-Pond's Turtle Tally.

Ennismore Shamrock Festival Report

2009-07-20T13:09:00.004-04:00

The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre had a display up at the Ennismore Shamrock Festival this past Saturday, July 18. An estimated 300-700 visitors came out to enjoy tractor pulls, wrestling, slowpitch, Ennismore Idol, a presentation by the Indian River Reptile Zoo, and displays by community groups including the KTTC. We raised $156.70 in t-shirt sales and donations thanks to the generous people of Ennismore. Thank you to new volunteer Patricia for helping Gina out!

Summer 2009 Events

2009-07-17T14:34:00.012-04:00

Here is a list of summer events we will be attending with our display. Come on out to learn more about turtles or help support the centre buy purchasing a t-shirt (or more).

Ennismore Shamrock Festival
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Ennismore Community Centre
10am - 4pm
www.ennismoreshamrockfestival.com

Festival of Lights - Serena Ryder
July 25, 2009
Del Crary Park, Peterborough
5pm-dusk
www.festivaloflights.ca

***Update***Cancelled due to rain. Will likely be rescheduled.***

Youth Outdoors Day
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Scugog Island First Nation
10am -3pm

Festival of Lights - Lovin' Spoonful
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Del Crary Park, Peterborough
5pm - dusk
www.festivaloflights.ca

Peterborough Folk Festival
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Rotary Park, Peterborough
11am-5pm
www.pff.pauart.com

New T-shirts available!

2009-06-19T15:16:00.039-04:00

Our new t-shirts are finally ready! It was difficult to choose a single winner from all the wonderful designs that were entered in our design contest. After some tough deliberation we declared Lindsey Woodcock of Bowmanville High School the winner. The KTTC would like to thank Ricart’s of Peterborough for giving us a great deal on printing.

Adult shirts (S, M, L, XL) are $20
Youth sizes (S, M, L) are $15

***Updated Feb 24, 2010***

T-shirts are now available for sale through our online store!!!

Please take this quick survey to let us know how you would prefer to purchase a KTTC shirt...

2009 Turtle Drop-off Locations

2009-06-03T23:02:00.006-04:00

Remember to drive safely and keep an eye out for our slow-moving shelled friends on the roads!

If you find an injured turtle there are three drop-off locations it can be taken to this year. If you are in the Kawarthas the turtle can be taken to Riverside Park and Zoo in Peterborough. Turtles can also be dropped off directly at the Toronto Wildlife Centre or the Midland Wildlife Centre if you are further afield when you find the turtle in need. Please be sure to note the exact location the turtle is found, place the turtle in a well-ventilated container, and transport it to a drop-off location as soon as possible.

Riverview Park and Zoo
1230 Water St Peterborough
Drop-off between 8am and 4pm - find a zookeeper in a big yellow truck to help

Please call ahead if you are dropping off at one of these locations:

The Toronto Wildlife Centre
(416) 631- 0662

The Midland SPCA
1-888-ONT-SPCA (668-7722)

Turtle Release Featured on CHEX News

2009-06-03T21:19:00.005-04:00

June is a busy month at the KTTC. Although we've already had some turtles dropped off to us this spring, we will likely receive many new patients over the next month. June is the height of turtle nesting season and unfortunately this is the time of year turtles are most likely to be hit by cars.

On a much happier note, this is also the time of year that many of our patients of released. Some of our patients end up spending the winter with us if they are not ready to be released by the autumn. CHEX News was on hand last night to film one of our happy endings. Tommy the Snapping Turtle was released back into the wild by the family who brought him in to the KTTC last spring. You can watch the story here: Turtle Release on CHEX.

World Turtle Day, May 23

2009-06-02T14:53:00.003-04:00

The KTTC would like to thank the Peterborough Chapters who allowed us to promote World Turtle Day on May 23, 2009 with an information booth at their store. Thank you to volunteers Cindy, Sam and Annita for helping get the word out about World Turtle Day!

Raffle

2009-05-05T08:17:00.008-04:00

Nature artist Michael Dumas has generously donated a framed, autographed giclee print of 3 species of owl entitles "Kinship". The print is being raffled off to raise money for the new centre. The draw will take place at 1pm on May 22 (the day before World Turtle Day) at the Orientation Centre at the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough Ontario. Tickets are $2 each, or 3 for $5, and can be obtained from KTTC volunteers or by contacting us at info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Update: Congratulations to raffle winner Gary Martin!
Thanks to all who supported the KTTC by buying or selling tickets!

Peterborough Green Expo Report

2009-05-05T08:09:00.005-04:00

The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre exhibited at the Green Expo for the first time this year. The event took place on April 25th at the Evinrude Centre. The show attracted about 1500 visitors. The KTTC talked to visitors of all ages about the plight of turtles in Ontario, and how to help. We raised over $221 in donations and sales of raffle tickets (for an autographed Dumas print). We also had a chance to talk to the local papers and TV stations! Thank you to volunteers Gina & Lauren, Lindsay & Heidi for giving up a beuautiful sunny Saturday to help out.

The KTTC has moved!

2009-05-04T08:15:00.009-04:00

The KTTC moved into it's new location on Erskine over the weekend! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out! And thaks to the Peterborough Examiner for helping us get the word out!

For now injured turtles cannot be accepted at the new facility until we are fully up and running again. In the meantime, injured animals can be taken to the Toronto Wildlife Centre or the Midland Wildlife Centre directly for treatment.

Spring 2009 Newsletter

2009-05-01T17:04:00.009-04:00

In this issue:
Turtle Handling 101
Volunteer Positions at the KTTC
An Updated Herpetofaunal Atlas for Ontario Beginning in 2009
Spotlight on the Spotted Turtle
Precious Little Turtles on the Brink
Turtle Myths Busted
Understanding the Endangered Species Act 2007
Turtle Crossing Signs
Legend's Babies

Turtle Handling 101
By Brooke Bays

Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side! Spring is just about here and turtles will once again be braving our roadways and dodging our lawnmowers. Although wild animals are usually best left alone, sometimes they need our help and there is, of course, a proper way to do so. The following tips will assist in making sure both you and the injured turtle get through the rescue mission safely.

Before anything else, make sure it is safe for you to pull over and help the turtle in need!
If you are helping an uninjured turtle off the road, always be sure to move the animal in the direction it is headed – even if it is travelling away from the nearest source of water. The turtle may be on its way for a traditional nesting site or hibernation area.
Species such as painted turtles or Blanding’s turtles can be picked up by the shell and placed out of harm’s way.
Be careful helping a Snapping Turtle across the road – keep a safe distance from their head as they will snap at you if they feel threatened. An uninjured animal can be coaxed across the road using a shovel or a board, or by allowing it to bite a long stick and pulling it across the road. Never pick up a turtle by the tail; you may damage its spine.
If you must pick up a snapping turtle by hand, do so by sliding fingers behind the turtle's hind legs, with the tail between your hands and gripping the shell between your fingers and thumbs. You may also slide one hand under the turtle’s belly to grab a hold of the plastron (the belly shell). Snappers are very strong and will squirm and thrash their hind legs making it difficult to hold on. A Snapper cannot reach all the way to its tail, despite popular belief, but can reach about half way.
If you find an injured turtle and would like to bring it into the KTTC or another rehabilitation centre make note of the location where the turtle is found. Once the turtle has recovered it will need to be returned to its territory and the information will be useful in determining mortality hotspots.
Injured animals should be carefully placed in a clean, well-ventilated container with a lid (so they don’t crawl out). An injured Snapper may be placed into the container using shovel or piece of wood, or if you must use your hands, lift the turtle only just off the ground and into the container.
Take a damp piece of cloth and place it over the turtle’s head. This will reduce stress.
Do not try to offer the turtle food or water.
Keep the container in the shade (do not leave the turtle in a hot car in summer!)
Call ahead to make sure the turtle will be accepted. If you live in the Kawarthas you can check our website for our phone number and drop-off locations which will be updated once we’ve found a new location. In other areas of the province a local wildlife rehabilitation centre or vet may be able to help you.
Wash your hands thoroughly!

If you find a turtle that is not injured and not in immediate danger, kindly leave it be. Never take a wild turtle home as a pet!

Volunteer Opportunities at the KTTC
There are several new volunteer opportunities at the KTTC. Thre are several ways to help us help turtles:

Turtle Taxi Drivers
Fundraising Volunteers
Turtle Talk Volunteers
Turtle Times Writers
Webmaster
Building Maintenance Volunteer
Grant Writer

Or if you have another skill or talent that you'd like to share please let us know!

An Updated Herpetofaunal Atlas for Ontario Beginning in 2009
By Joe Crowley
Ontario Nature Reptiles at Risk Project Coordinator
joec@ontarionature.org

Thirty of Ontario’s forty-three species of reptiles are listed as Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Many of Ontario’s reptile species only occur in the southernmost parts of the province, which has become one of the most developed regions in Canada. As a result, habitat loss, roads, and other threats have caused drastic population declines, and some species have disappeared from many areas altogether. For example, the massasauga populations on the Bruce Peninsula were once continuous with those of eastern Georgian Bay, but now no longer occur south of Wiarton. The current distribution of the massasauga in Ontario is highly correlated with habitat loss and road density, suggesting that this range retraction is the result of the northward encroachment of agriculture, development, and roads in southern Ontario.

The rapid disappearance of reptiles throughout southern Ontario demonstrates the urgent need to identify and protect remaining populations. The previous Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary (OHS) Atlas has been compiling reptile and amphibian distribution data since 1984, and in that time approximately 150,000 records have been added to the database. Although the OHS database has provided an exceptional account of species distributions at the provincial scale, the locations of many populations remain unknown, and detailed information about population abundance or status is out of date in many areas.

In 2008, Ontario Nature received funding from the Environment Canada Habitat Stewardship Program, the OMNR Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, and the Metcalf Internship Program to begin a Reptiles at Risk project in Grey and Bruce counties. Populations of all at-risk reptiles in Ontario Nature’s Nature Reserves in Grey and Bruce counties were identified, important habitat was mapped, and management plans were drafted for each population. An outreach campaign was also initiated in order to increase awareness of reptile conservation, promote habitat stewardship, and reduce human persecution, road mortality, illegal collection and other threats. During Ontario Nature’s reptile work in Grey and Bruce counties, several new populations of at-risk reptiles were discovered, and it became apparent that the locations of many populations of reptiles have not been documented in this region.

Around the same time, the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) received funding from the Environment Canada Habitat Stewardship Program and the OMNR Species at Risk Stewardship Fund to develop the methodology and framework for an Eastern Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas and Awareness Program. An extensive outreach campaign was also developed for eastern Ontario to encourage participation in the atlas program and provide information about reptile and amphibian identification and conservation in eastern Ontario.

Through a partnership with the EOMF, the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC), and other government and non-government groups, Ontario Nature is expanding the eastern Ontario atlas framework and building on the Grey-Bruce reptiles at risk program to begin an updated Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas Program. Beginning in the spring of 2009, volunteers are encouraged to submit observations of reptiles and amphibians from anywhere in Ontario. Observation data can be reported by filling in an online form, or multiple observations can be entered into a downloadable Excel atlas reporting form and submitted over e-mail. A printable data sheet is available for participants to take into the field with them, and these completed forms can also be mailed in. Observations should be accompanied with photographs whenever possible to help confirm the identity of the species being reported. For the 2009 field season, the EOMF is holding a photo contest with monthly prizes for photos submitted with atlas observations from eastern Ontario. When conducting surveys for the atlas program, reptiles and amphibians should not be harassed or handled, and great care should be taken to avoid altering or destroying habitat. Atlas participants are also reminded to be respectful of private property and to never trespass in search of wildlife.

Groups that wish to participate in the herpetofaunal atlas program should contact Joe Crowley at joec@ontarionature.org to inquire about training workshops, volunteer survey events, herpetofaunal atlas program materials, and reptile and amphibian ID guides. Organizations with pre-existing reptile and amphibian occurrence data are encouraged to contribute their data to the atlas program as well. The data collected by the atlas will help to ensure that planning decisions, stewardship, habitat protection, and status assessments are better informed. For more information about the herpetofaunal atlas and photo contest or to submit observations, please visit the Eastern Ontario Model Forest’s website.

Spotlight on the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)
By Danielle Tassie

People who work in wildlife rehabilitation are supposed to avoid words like “cute” and “cuddly”. Wildlife in our care are just that – wild. We are not supposed to think of them as cute.

That being said, the Spotted Turtle is one cute wild animal. This is the smallest turtle you'll find in Ontario, with adults growing to just 9-12 cm long. Along with the size, you can tell it's a Spotted Turtle by the smooth, dark shell, legs and head, scattered with bright yellow spots.

The Spotted Turtle lives in Northeastern North America. In Ontario small numbers of these turtles are found near Lake Erie, Georgian Bay and along the St. Lawrence River.

Spotted turtles like small, shallow water bodies such as ponds, marshes, woodland streams, even ditches – anything with soft bottoms and lots of vegetation.

These turtles like their rest. When it's really hot in the summer, they're resting in cool wetlands or in forest leaf litter. During the “winter” (which may begin in early fall) the Spotted Turtle is dormant at the bottom of ponds and marshes (often grouped with several other Spotted Turtles).

Their one period of activity is late spring. Like many of Ontario's turtles, the female Spotted Turtle lays its eggs in late May or June. She will lay anywhere from 1-8 eggs, which hatch 60-80 days later. Like all turtles, the mother's work is done as soon as she lays her eggs. Turtles do not sit on their nests, and as soon as the babies hatch, they know exactly what to do and where to go!

Like all turtles, the little Spotted Turtle faces some big threats; habitat loss, destruction of wetlands, water pollution, and illegal collection for the pet trade. These small gentle turtles are appealing to us people, and unfortunately many wild turtles are collected and sold as pets. (So, please, never ever buy wild caught turtles!). Turtle eggs are also eaten by animals such as raccoons and skunks.

The Spotted Turtle is a “Species at Risk” in Ontario. It's Endangered in Ontario and throughout Canada.

Precious Little Turtles on the Brink…
By Steve Marks

One of my personal favourite species of reptile that lives here in our province is the spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata. It’s Canada’s smallest species of turtle, and they’re easily our most beautiful! With bright orange skin, yellow spots on a jet black shell, the cutest little faces, and spunk and personality to spare, they are one of Ontario’s true natural treasures.

Spotted turtles have a tough time of it here in Ontario. In fact, they aren’t doing well anywhere they occur. There are many pressures to this species, and very little relief in sight in a lot of the places they subsist. One real threat is collection for the pet trade. It is illegal in this part of the world to keep the species without a special permit, but elsewhere, spotted turtles can be legally bought and sold. Where they are bred in captivity, that is just fine, but the numbers produced in captivity does not feed the demand for these wonderful little turtles. Therefore, the demand for wild caught animals is very real and these turtles are collected by unscrupulous individuals looking to make a quick buck.

Where the landscape is disturbed, the species seems to be quite sensitive. Even in Provincial Parks, the disturbances that can occur are not favourable to these little turtles. From 1995 to 2002, I conducted an informal volunteer study of spotted turtles for a park. It was created in 1975. It’s not a very large area, by Provincial Park standards, and yet there were hundreds of spotted turtles living within the boundaries. Between 1976 and 1978 most of the critical habitat in the park was altered, as the campgrounds and other recreational areas were developed. Family camping became the primary function of this little park, and today it boasts several hundred sites, most of which occur in previously occupied spotted turtle habitat.

As the years went by, another huge pressure for today’s turtles emerged in full force. Predator populations were being rapidly subsidized. Campers unknowingly (or consciously) feed raccoons, creating more body fat in the adults, which therefore produce more young. The population flourishes, only to put more pressure on whatever species the raccoons naturally prey upon. So, with a deflated population of spotted turtles within this park due to habitat destruction, and dramatically increased pressure on the turtles from subsidized predator populations, the spotted turtles have disappeared from the park. Additionally, while the actual reasons are unknown, a spotted turtle population at Point Pelee National Park that was once as populous as painted turtles, disappeared entirely after the creation of that park (Browne and Hecnar, Biological Conservation 138 (2007) 421–429).

I was able to locate a population not terribly far away from the Park thanks to a local naturalist, and conducted a mark and re-capture study to assess the population. Over the next three years, several members of the KTTC came out to help. Ideally, if I could prove that the site harboured a substantial number of the now endangered spotted turtle, I would hopefully be able to rally for some real protection for the land – and therefore the turtles. I handed over all my results to someone far more capable of levying support for this protection and today that site is being studied by Laurentian University’s Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus and MSc. candidate Megan Rasmussen. Hopefully these wonderful people can get the deed done, and this population of wonderful turtles can exist for generations to come.

Isn’t it strange that spotted turtles, an endangered species, are no longer found within that Provincial Park where they once flourished – possibly one of the largest populations known, and yet just a few kilometres away, that newly discovered site is thriving – because it’s in a relatively undisturbed area.
Isn't it too bad that camping and going to the beach is more important than our wildlife?

Turtle Myths Busted
By Brooke Bays

While the old wives tell their tales, turtles continue to be misunderstood. Here are a few common turtle myths busted to help clear their reputation:

Myth #1: Turtles will give you Salmonella.
Salmonella bacteria are found naturally in the intestines of mammals, birds, reptiles, some pets, some humans and is also present in the environment. Salmonellosis, a serious infection of the gastrointestinal tract, can be spread by handling animals or even by human-human contact. It is very important to wash your hands thoroughly and practice good hygiene after handling animals or cleaning up after them. Pet turtles have a higher chance of transmitting salmonella because their food and waste accumulates in the stagnant water in their tank, whereas turtles in the wild live in a cleaner environment. While it is possible to get Salmonella from turtles, it is not turtle specific and is easily avoided.

Myth #2: Turtles eat all of the fish in our lakes and are causing a decline in sport fish populations.
Turtles consume small fish, some of which may be the young of some game fish. The impact on these fish populations is very minimal and has no more effect on populations than any other species that relies on them as a food source. Unfortunately, this common misconception has lead to unnecessary death or disregard of many turtles, usually Snappers who are only capable of preying on slow, non-game fish.

Myth #3: A pet turtle will only grow to the size of its enclosure.
Not true. Depending on the adult size of a species, a turtle does not simply stop growing if its tank is too small. Some species grow at slower rates than others and nutrition and habitat quality are a factor as well. Research the species before choosing an enclosure to ensure that it has plenty of room as a fully grown adult. Remember that it is illegal to keep native wildlife as pets in Ontario.

Have a myth you’d like to see in the next issue?
Email us at info [at] kawarthaturtle.org.

Understanding the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007
By Rebecca Dolson

Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) was passed into law in 2007, and came into force on June 30, 2008. Compared to previous legislation, this new law more than triples the number of species and habitats that are protected.

Of the 30,000 species that are native to Ontario, more than 180 are at risk. The Act defines an 'at risk' species as any native plant or animal that is in danger of disappearing from the province.

There are 5 levels of risk classification for species (Table 1). The ESA provides direction for governments, industry, resource users, landowners, and partners to ensure Ontario’s biological diversity. The Act focuses on the protection of species at risk, as well as their habitat requirements. In accordance with Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy, the ESA promotes a productive and resilient ecosystem, by protecting biodiversity. Specific objectives to protect species at risk are outlined in the Act, including:

Government regulation and permitting procedures for activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the Act;
Recognition of the importance of both species and habitat protection;
Recognition and incorporation of community and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge;
Encouragement and promotion of stewardship activities to help protect and recover species at risk; and
Greater accountability in government reporting requirements.

A major component of the ESA is to foster and support stewardship programs, including the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund. This fund was set up to encourage and support groups and individuals who voluntarily participate in stewardship activities to protect and recover species at risk and their habitats. There are also programs to support farmers and other landowners who voluntarily carry out selected practices that contribute to the protection and recovery of species at risk.

The ESA also recognizes Aboriginal and Treaty rights and encourages the incorporation of community and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge in species assessments. Persons having such knowledge are recognized as having relevant expertise.

How does the ESA 2007 protect species at risk?
Before a species is afforded protection under the Act, it must be listed as a species at risk on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) list. A recognized independent scientific committee, the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), is responsible for assessing and classifying species using the best scientific information available, based on factors that influence the species’ risk status. COSSARO’s recommendations regarding classification and status of species must be reflected on the SARO list within 90 days of the recommendation to the Minister of Natural Resources.

When a species is listed on the SARO list, the species and its habitat are protected under the Act, which prohibits the “killing, harming, harassing, possessing, buying, selling, trading, leasing or transporting species listed as threatened, endangered or extirpated”. The Act also provides habitat protection by prohibiting “damaging or destroying habitat of endangered and threatened species”. Importantly, the Act does more then simply dictate what one can and cannot do with a species at risk. The Act requires the preparation of recovery strategies for endangered and threatened species, and the preparation of management plans for species of special concern. Recovery strategies and management plans are science-based advice the government uses to recommend steps to recover the species at risk. Under the Act the government must provide the public with a response to the recovery strategy or management plan. The response must summarize and prioritize the recovery actions the government intends to implement.

What happens when someone contravenes the Act?
The Endangered Species Act came into force on June 30, 2008. If found guilty of being in violation of the Act, a first time individual offender can be fined up to a maximum of $250,000, and corporations up to $1 million. Depending on the offense, imprisonment is also a viable sentence. Under the Act, enforcement officers have the right to search, seize, make arrests and issue stop work orders if they find a violation of the Act.

How can I help ensure the success of the Endangered Species Act?
There are a vast number of stewardship opportunities for those willing and able to donate their time to protect our species at risk. While not an exhaustive list, contacting your local Conservation Authority, local chapter of the Ontario Federation of Angles and Hunters, Trout Unlimited Canada, and Ontario Streams, will provide you with useful information on local stewardship opportunities. If you are able to volunteer your time on a consistent basis there are longer term opportunities for stewardship including; Bird Studies Canada which operates the Marsh Monitoring Project and the Toronto Zoo which supports the Adopt a Pond program, among many others.

Not everyone has the time or ability to spend a day cleaning up shorelines or recording frog calls, but you can still help. Simply by reporting your observation of a species at risk to your local Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Species at Risk Biologist is a great help. Or, perhaps you can talk with friends and neighbors about the importance of protecting species at risk.

The Endangered Species Act and Turtles
There are 8 species of turtles in Ontario, of which 6 are included on the SARO List (Table 2). Both Wood and Spotted Turtles are listed as endangered species, indicating immediate efforts are necessary to protect these species from vanishing from Ontario. Turtles are typically long-lived, slow to reach age of maturity, and have relatively low juvenile survival. Life history characteristics such as these imply that turtles are not able to readily adapt to a change in their environment and are susceptible to many threats. In fact, most turtle threats are wide-spread and ongoing.

The major threats to turtle conservation include; habitat loss (e.g., shoreline alteration), road mortality of migrating reproductive adults, nest predation, and human collection for the pet trade. Due to unnaturally high levels of nest predators (skunks, raccoons, dogs) juvenile mortality can be high in some areas. However, the most immediate and manageable cause of turtle population decline, road mortality, can be addressed. Road mortality can be easily mitigated by drivers, if they’re made aware of turtle crossing time windows (May-July) and areas (a road dividing a marsh or wetland). The ESA provides protection for listed turtle species and their habitats, a positive step to conserve Ontario's turtles.

Sixteen turtle conservation projects have been funded through the MNR’s Species at Risk Stewardship Program from 2007 - 2009. Examples of these projects include: Outreach – educating the public about good and bad shoreline management; Monitoring – consolidating and updating turtle distribution and nesting information across the Greater Toronto Area; and Recovery – re-routing an ATV/snowmobile trail to avoid Wood turtle habitat.

Turtles and other species at risk may have a brighter future in Ontario due to the development and implementation of the ESA. Just as important, there is hope for these species, thanks to concerned citizens who value a healthy, native Ontario biodiversity.

Turtle Crossing Signs
Courtesy of Adopt-a-Pond

There may be no bigger threat to Ontario's turtles than that of busy roads and highways. Countless turtles every year are run over and killed on Ontario's roads. 6 of 8 turtle species are threatened, and those most often killed are females travelling to nesting areas. The loss of females in particular is devastating to turtle populations. Adopt a Pond provides many opportunities to become involved in conserving our turtles and informing others about the threats they face. If you live in an area with a high turtle road mortality you may be interested in a road awareness sign!

How do I 'sign up'?

Identify a turtle road mortality hotspot (i.e. Take photos of the area and mortalities/injuries. Get neighbours involved in watching for turtles/turtle mortalities. Report your sightings to Ontario Turtle Tally)
Obtain approval from the municipality or road authority where the sign will be installed and meet their sign location and installation specifications (Contact your local road authority in writing with your request).
Or demonstrate that you will be installing the sign on private property adjacent to a road mortality hotspot
Then contact the Adopt-A-Pond Coordinator at aap@torontozoo.ca or 416-392-5999
For more information, and to view the Crossing Sign Gallery', visit Adopt-a-Pond’s website.

Legend's Babies
by Ali Meteer

A mature Map Turtle, who has been nick-named “Legend”, came to the KTTC with a shell fracture in the spring of last year. Shortly thereafter she delivered 5 eggs into her water enclosure. Four of her oblong eggs were placed an incubator and left - untouched until the babies broke through their shells in the fall.
They remained in the incubator for approximately a week, living off their yolk sac. Once all remnants of the yolk sac were gone, they were transferred to a large water/land enclosure where they have been happily living since.

They are all thriving, and are reportedly 'good little eaters' - preferring live food such as crickets to commercial pellet food. They are due to be released this spring at the site where their mother Legend was injured last year. Had Legend not been brought to the KTTC for treatment these four may have never hatched or had a chance to help perpetuate the dwindling population of Map turtles in Ontario.

Additional images from this issue available on Picasa:

Kawartha Turtle Times 2009 Spring

KTTC now on Twitter

2009-05-01T16:50:00.003-04:00

Get up to the minute updates form the KTTC on Twitter.

KTTC featured on CHEX news!

2009-04-14T10:29:00.004-04:00

Peterborough's local tv station, CHEX tv, aired a story on our urgent need for a new location last night!

Have a look at the CHEX archives:
http://www.chextv.com/videos/Newswatch_TurtleTrauma.WMV

Spring Cottage Life Show

2009-04-08T11:01:00.006-04:00

Once again, the KTTC participated in the Spring Cottage Life Show (March 27-29) and had a fantastic time teaching cottagers about the turtles they share their vacation spaces with.

Over the course of the weekend we:

Raised $350.29 in donations, t-shirt & bumper sticker sales, and memberships
We added almost 100 people to our e-mail list through the draw for "The Cottage Bible" (donated by author Gerry Mackie); congratulations to the winner Carole Porter!
We talked to THOUSANDS of cottagers about the snapping turtle that lives under their dock, and people took away hundreds of pamphlets for further reading
We got an invite to participate in the Fishing & Boat Show, and were also asked to present to a cottage associations and kid's groups in the Kawarthas
We held audiences captive during our 3 "Turtle Talks"

None of this would have happened without the KTTC volunteers who gave up a good chunk of their weekend to make the trip to the Mississauga International Centre. Thank you Annita, Steve, Laurie, Erin, Lindsay, Gina and Rebecca for helping to make the weekend a success.

Thank you also to The Cottage Life who donated our exhibition space and added our turtle talks to their schedule in the "Sharing the Outdoors" section of the show.

KTTC in the News

2009-03-01T11:39:00.002-05:00

Peterborough's own Turtle hospital is looking for a new home. After 4 years in very generously donated warehouse, the licensed rehabilitation centre needs to find a new space that includes office and hospital areas.

See the Peterborough Examiner's news release or the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre's (KTTC) website for more information!

Peterborough Examiner
Peterborough This Week
KTTC website

(Links to newspaper articles expire Thursday, March 5, unless you have a subscription to the paper)

Discover Nature on Family Day

2009-02-03T12:07:00.005-05:00

Celebrate Family Day with Ontario Nature and Ontario Stewardship on Monday, February 16, 2009. Speakers include Kevin Callan (How to be a Happy Camper), Mike McMurtry (Natural Heritage Treasures in the Peterborough Region), Lorraine Norris (Hawks, Owls, and Other Raptors of the Peterborough Region), and Gary and Dianne Westlake (Where to Find and How to Grow Native Plants). Concurrent outdoor activities for kids including learning to use binoculars, winter survival skills, snowshoeing for beginners, and more! Preregistration is required by February 6. Contact Peter Mabee at (705) 755-1951 or peter.mabee@ontario.ca.

Winter 2009 Newsletter

2009-01-29T21:26:00.047-05:00

Our Turtles Need a New Space!

Although it will be months before turtles stir from their winter slumber to be seen once again in our wetlands – and on our roadways - the KTTC is busy planning to move for the second time.

In this issue:
Our Turtles Need a New Space!
Volunteers Needed
Spotlight on the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Winter Slumber
Kids for Turtles Environmental Education
Thank you to Justine and Kazia!
Thank you to Goldbutton Studio!
2009 Calendar Campaign a Success!
Australia’s Bum-breathing Turtle Gets a Helping Hand
Rehabilitation Centre Development Workshop
T-Shirt Contest

Our Turtles Need a New Space!

Although it will be months before turtles stir from their winter slumber to be seen once again in our wetlands – and on our roadways - the KTTC is busy planning to move for the second time.

What are we looking for?

1300 – 1800 sq/ft total
Minimum of of 1000 sq/ft without drywall (high humidity environment)
Optional drywalled office space
Concrete floor/sealable floor with floor drains
Reliable water supple
Electricity (we can wire it)
Insulated or insulatable (by us)
Bathroom and sinks
Propane / Natural Gas / Oil
Donated space preferred but not mandatory

We would like to thank our very generous landlords at Burman Fellows Group and Classy Chassis and Cycles. Their very kind contribution has led to the rehabilitation / release of over 100 native turtles! Their generosity continues as they have offered to help us move and re-wire our future home!

A new centre is a big step, but also an exciting opportunity. The only catch is that we need to be set up and ready to go before any turtles need our help this coming spring. If you would like to help us find a new space please email us at info@kawarthaturtle.org or call Jack (Riverside Park and Zoo Director) at 705-748-9301 ext.2303.

Volunteers Needed

The KTTC is looking for volunteers to help us expand our outreach program. In addition to raising awareness about the work of the KTTC, the committee will focus on educating the public about the status and ecological role of turtles native to Ontario. Educating the public is essential to reducing road mortality, assisting in the recovery of turtles native to Ontario, and to promoting turtle habitat protection and stewardship.

Volunteers are needed to help out at special events, write for the newsletter, update web content, design new promotional products, and a whole lot more. If you are interested in joining the committee or helping with other outreach activities please contact Gina at info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Spotlight on the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
By Rebecca Dolson

The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre would like to pay homage this month to the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). In 2008, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) upgraded the Snapping Turtle to a species of 'special concern'.

This decision reflects current estimates of the Snappers range and abundance, in addition to its life history characteristics. For example, Snappers are long lived (it is thought Snappers could live to be 150!). Also, most female Snappers do not reach sexual maturity until at least 11 years old, and this is often an under-estimate. Their longevity and late age of maturity suggests that this species is very vulnerable to disturbance. So COSEWIC's decision to upgrade the status of this historical Canadian species is an important proactive step.

So what makes a turtle a Snapping turtle? Aside from being one of the most prehistoric looking animals in our Ontario landscape, they are also our largest reptile. Brownish in colour, they can reach over 50 pounds and 36 cm long. Their carapace (top shell) is serrated giving a dangerously pointy appearance reminiscent of dinosaurs! They have long claws on sturdy legs, and a jaw that can pack a powerful bite. Snapping turtles, unlike most turtles, have a reduced shell and cannot
protect themselves by pulling their head and legs into their shell. They have no natural predators in the water, but on land must protect themselves from predators the only way they can – by snapping. It is best to admire a Snapping turtle from a good distance.

Snappers prefer to live in swamps, weedy lakes, and backwater river areas, with lots of vegetation and a thick muddy bottom. Snapping turtles are both scavengers and predators, playing a significant ecological role by consuming detritus (decaying material), aquatic plants, fishes, tadpoles and frogs. Watch for them basking near the surface of bogs and swamps in early spring. The Snappers bask (lay for long periods in the sun) in order to warm themselves when they are cold. Turtles are ectotherms, meaning that they do not regulate the temperature of their bodies and so basking keeps them warm. In the winter, Snapping turtles avoid the cold by hibernating in the mud bottom of their swamp or river. They dig into the mud in early October and remain there until the following Spring (see Winter Slumber by Laurie Kryshka below for more details).

Breeding in Snapping turtles takes place in early spring (May) and occasionally throughout the summer. Females migrate to their preferred nesting grounds in early June and deposit 25-40 eggs in a nest. Nesting sites are typically found within 100 m of the shore in loose gravel-sand substrates, on gentle slopes. These well-drained substrates allow water and oxygen to move through the nest, helping the eggs develop. These sites are usually near roadways. A female that grew for at least 11 years before mating and laying eggs may be killed on the road the first time she looks for a nesting location. One study (Haxton et al. 2005) showed an annual road mortality rate of 30.5% for Snapping turtles, of which 24% were females.

Even if a female reaches a nesting site and lays eggs, between 20 and 100% of these nests can be dug up and the eggs eaten by raccoons and skunks. Many hatchlings are also eaten after hatching on their way to the water, or are picked off by predators in the water while they are still small. The sex of a baby snapping turtle is not genetically predetermined as in humans; turtle’s sex is temperature depen ent. The temperature of the nest influences how the eggs develop; at high and low temperatures female baby snapping turtles develop, while in moderate temperatures, males develop. Climate change threatens to alter the sex ratio of many organism that rely on temperature dependent sex determination, including turtles. Too few males or
females is not good for any population, especially long lived and slow responding species like the Snapping turtle.

Other threats include urban expansion and habitat loss; for example, when a wetland is filled in for housing developments. The Snappers diet has also given them a bad reputation. On rare occasions Snappers will eat small ducklings, goslings, and cygnets from the water surface when there is no other food available. For these reasons Snappers can be misunderstood and mistreated or killed by some misinformed people. The Snapping Turtle is also listed as a game species in Ontario. A valid Ontario Sport or Conservation fishing license allows a person to take up to two Snappers a day in season and possess a limit of five.

Given the immense challenges facing Snapping turtles, as well as Ontario's other turtles, we welcome the designation of Snapping turtles as a species of special concern by COSEWIC. By promoting awareness of this species, reducing unnecessary road mortality and increasing public perception of this relict species we can prevent the Snapping turtle from further population declines and conserve the species.

Winter Slumber
By Laurie Kryshka

All animals prepare for winter differently. Squirrels and chipmunks collect and hide food in the fall, many birds migrate or fly south, while other animals eat large amounts of food in the fall to gain body fat and then find a nice warm place to sleep through winter such as bears, frogs and turtles. Animals that do this are called “hibernators”. Hibernation is when an animal is in an inactive state for a period of time. To be a true hibernator the heart rate of the animal must slow down and their body temperature needs to drop down to near 0OC. That’s almost at the Freezing Point! This then makes it hard for the hibernator to wake up quickly. Even though bears are said to be hibernators they are not true hibernators because their body temperature does not drop very much, and they are easily awaken from their winter slumber. Turtles though are considered to be true hibernators and their hibernation is called Brumation.

All of Ontario’s turtles hibernate throughout winter and their hibernating sites are located usually at the bottom of ponds, lakes or deep under the mud. Doing this allows their body temperature and heart rate to drop so much that their body does not need to eat during the winter. Turtles are able to slow down their heart rate to almost nothing. Normally a turtle’s heart beats about 40 times a minute when basking in the sun in the summer, but during hibernation their heart beat drops down to about one beat every 10 minutes. WOW!

You may be asking yourself if turtles breathe air, how can they sleep all through winter under water? The answer to this puzzling question is just another amazing way turtles have adapted to their environment!

They are able to survive under water because the water that is at the bottom of the ponds and lakes contain more oxygen and are actually warmer than the surface water. To overcome their inability to breathe under water, turtles have adapted special tissue in their throat and tail opening that is able to take in oxygen that is in the water. This means that they are able to breathe through their throat and tail!

Hibernation is just one of the many vulnerable times in a turtle’s lifecycle. During hibernation their body slows so much that their immune system begins to shut down, which means that they are at high risk of getting really sick or even dying. Due to this sick or injured turtles should not hibernate and this is why the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre is so important. All of the sick or injured turtles that come into the Centre that do not heal in time for winter hibernation are kept at the Centre. We care for the turtles through winter so they will be healthy and ready to go once the spring and warm weather return.

Kids for Turtles Environmental Education
By Bob Bowles

Kids for Turtles Environmental Education, formed in 2006, is an outreach educational organization dedicated to increasing public awareness about the importance of preserving natural habitats and protecting the many species that live in these areas. The group promotes habitat preservation and the need for a responsible development process. They also promote healthy, active lifestyles, getting our younger generation out with their families communing with nature and learning about the world around them.

The name Kids For Turtles is symbolic in that turtles are among the few living remnants of the pre-historic era. Conversely, our children represent the future who will assume responsibility for it’s stewardship as future policy makers. Kids For Turtles started as a section of the Twin Lakes Conservation Club but have quickly grown now to a completely separate non-profit organization with charitable status and a membership of over 250 with many chapters in the area. The group now has their own office and an 11-member board of directors from every section of the educational community.

We are much more than just kids protecting turtles since our adult volunteers who include parents, active and retired educators and community leaders, give presentations to schools and community groups on invasive species, species at risk, vernal pools and many other environmental subjects including turtles and other reptiles. The group has formed partnerships with many leading environmental organizations including Ontario Nature. For more information on Kids For Turtles Environmental Education visit their website at www.kidsforturtles.com or email info@kidsforturtles.com. You can also call their office at 705-325-5386 (KFT6).

Kids for Turtles Winter Active Programs in 2009

We first read about the term Nature Deficit Disorder in Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv published in 2005. He proposed the theory that there is a trend that children are spending less time outdoor resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems. He attributes this trend to parental fears that natural areas outdoor are not safe for children and they prefer them in the safety of their own homes. Here they are lured to the screen spending many inactive hours on the consumption of electronic media. CTV ran a story on this trend during the summer of 2007 and interviewed several experts.

They quoted Joe Doiron, senior policy analyst with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s healthy living unit who told them that the whole notion of free, unorganized play is going by the wayside and the trend now is mostly indoor organized activities. He adds, “children and youth are not as active today as they need to be to accrue all of the healthy benefits that they need for healthy growth and development.”

Professor Nathan Perkins of the University of Guelph has found that parents have very vague and powerful fears about letting their children play unsupervised outdoors. We have all watched news reports about a handful of serious crimes against children that seem to occur over and over again giving good reason for parental concerns.

Research by the environmental group Living Green has found that the average child in North America spends less than 15 minutes a day outside but up to 5 hours a day playing video games or watching television. These figures go up in the winter months. Public health staff has found that this lifestyle leads to childhood obesity and unhealthy living which leads to health problems, emotional problems, confidence issues and continuing unhealthy living throughout life.

Kids For Turtles Environmental Education has plans to reverse this tend this winter. We received funding from Good For Life to purchase 12 pairs of high quality children snowshoes this winter for our Snowshoeing Sunday outings. We have these available to groups or families free of charge and can provide leadership at special times this winter when snow condition are best. In order to make it more exciting for participants we are planning to install a winter bird feeder trail along the snowshoe route. Kids For Turtles feel that it is a good way to not only prevent nature deficit disorder and childhood obesity but to promote a healthy lifestyle outdoors.

About the author: Bob Bowles is a renowned naturalist, writer, photographer and professional environmental consultant, respected as an expert in all aspects of the environment. He is also the founder of the Orillia area Kids for Turtles, as well as a number of other naturalist groups.

A Special Thank You to Justine and Kazia!

We would like to extend a huge Thank You to Justine and Kazia Poser for their generous donation to the KTTC. Thanks to Justine and Kazia, we are able to purchase a much needed new fridge & freezer for the Turtle Centre. This allows us to store food and medicine for the turtles in our care.

Craft Sales to benefit KTTC

Local crafter Hilary of Goldbutton Studio is donating 10% of her sales to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. Hilary has several paintings for sale and also
molds polymer clay into little sculptures that may end up being earrings, necklaces, or other wearable art. You can visit her online shop at
www.goldbuttonstudio.etsy.com.

2009 Calendar Campaign a Success!

Since 2003 the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre has been selling calendars to raise funds for our turtle rehabilitation program. This year we raised a thousand dollars – that’s enough to 6 tanks (for housing painted, Blanding’s, wood, or map turtles) with proper filtering and lighting!

Over the years the calendars have been designed by the Wildlife Club at the University of Guelph, Lazer Graphics in Peterborough, and most recently by biologist Joe Crowley. Joe’s research for Ontario Nature was recently featured in ON Nature Magazine, available online at http://www.ontarionature.org/onnature/earthwatch.html#7.

Every year the calendars are marketed by a dedicated group of centre volunteers, as well as several local stores. We’d like to thank the stores listed below for their continued support of the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre:

• Animalia (901 Lansdowne St W)
• Have You Seen (321 Aylmer St N)
• Pet-a-Rama (1080 Lansdowne St W)
• Paulmac's (753 Lansdowne St W)
• Pet Valu (139 George St N)
• The Spill (414 George St N)
• Stickling's Bakery & Bistro (191 Charlotte St)
• Titles Bookstore (379 George Street N)
• Wild Rock Outfitters (169 Charlotte St)

The KTTC is recruiting volunteers to help with next year’s calendar campaign as well as other fundraising initiatives. If you are interested in helping us raise funds to continue our conservation work please consider volunteering with the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre by contacting us at info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Australia’s Bum-breathing Turtle Gets a Helping Hand
by Lesley Hale

In Central Queensland lies the Fitzroy River and the city of Rockhampton. Rockhampton is known as the Beef Capital of Australia, but its real icon was there long before the Brahmans moved in. It is the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops), a freshwater turtle that was only discovered in 1980 and is endemic to the Fitzroy Basin. This fascinating species is often referred to as a “bum-breather” due to its unique physiology which allows it to breathe through its bottom. This is known as cloacal respiration and there are other freshwater turtles that are known to have this physiology but none quite so defined as Rheodytes leukops. This turtle has been studied in recent years and it has been found that they can stay submerged for over a week by obtaining oxygen through their cloaca. Within its cloaca are highly-vascular, gill-like structures called papillae that facilitate aquatic gas exchange. It is believed they obtain up to 70 percent of their oxygen through this mode of respiration.

Due to its ability to stay submerged for long periods of time, most local residents are not aware of the existence of this turtle and certainly very few people have ever seen them. This evolutionary ability to stay submerged for long periods of time would likely give the species an advantage during its years as a hatchling and juvenile when they are vulnerable to multiple predators. However, this has given them no advantage to deal with the current threats that they face and they are now listed as a threatened species.

The Fitzroy River turtle is listed as ‘vulnerable’ and is facing a decline in population due to nest predation and habitat disturbance. Like so many other native species in Australia, the introduction of feral species such as foxes and cats has had a devastating impact. Turtle nests have always had natural predators such as water rats and goannas (lizards), but with the introduction of feral predators, the balance has been lost and the turtles are losing the battle of survival.

A local community organisation, Greening Australia, saw an opportunity to develop a project to conserve the threatened turtle. In partnership with scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency, Greening Australia developed a project that would address the threats such as nest predation and habitat disturbance.

With a team of over 30 local volunteers, ranging in age from 13 to 65, the project involved patrolling sections of the Fitzroy River which had nesting sites. From mid September to the end of November these sites were searched every morning at dawn for evidence of new nests. When new nests were found, a protective mesh was placed over the nest to keep predators from gaining access to the eggs buried in the sand.

In 2007 the team safely protected over 110 nests and with an average of 16 eggs per nest, it is estimated that over 1700 hatchlings reached the Fitzroy River. This was a huge success for the project and the nest protection patrols continue to this day. The 2008 nesting season saw similar success. In some cases the nests had to be relocated to safer nesting banks. This was due to either camping pressures or the turtle laying the nest too close to the river’s edge. In such cases, the eggs were carefully removed from the nest, measured, put in a box with sand and moved to a safer nesting bank. During the relocation it was imperative that the eggs not be rotated as this may have fatal results for the delicate embryo. The relocated nests had the same hatching success as stationary nests due to the delicate handling of the eggs.

Other aspects of the project include habitat restoration which involves fencing off nesting sites to restrict cattle access and weed removal to ensure the nesting banks are accessible for the turtles. The project received full cooperation from landholders to not only access nesting sites on their land, but also to erect fences where necessary.

The on-ground achievements of the project were very encouraging but perhaps the greatest achievements were those gained through raising awareness. Presentations on the Fitzroy River turtle project were given at local schools, community organisations, conferences and local events. In partnership with the Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association, workshops were held showcasing all the species of turtles living in the Fitzroy River. These live specimens were captive bred turtles and commonly used for education purposes across the state of Queensland. As the Fitzroy River turtle is normally such a shy and uncommonly seen animal, this workshop provided the local community the rare opportunity to see one up close and personal.

The local community were finally getting the opportunity to learn all about their local turtles and how they could help protect them. School children were excited to learn all about the “bum-breathing” turtle that lived in their local rivers. The project attracted media attention with spots on local and national news and the TV program Totally Wild. The Fitzroy River turtle is finally on the map and on the minds of Australians, both locally and nationally. The future is looking a little brighter for the shy turtle of the Fitzroy River.

QUICK FACTS
Name : Rheodytes leukops
Discovered: 1980
Status: Vulnerable
Distribution: Fitzroy Basin, Queensland, Australia
Size: 25cm
Appearance: Medium to dark brown with no
distinct markings; white ring around the eye
Reproduction: lays 12-20 eggs on sandy banks
from mid Sept to mid Nov; 2-3 clutches per season
Threats: nest predation, habitat disturbance; water
quality

About the Author:
Lesley Hale, a native to Belleville, Ontario, managed the Fitzroy River Turtle Conservation Project for 3 years in Queensland Australia. She is now volunteering with KTTC and helping with the Wood Turtle Recovery Strategy.

Rehabilitation Centre Development Workshop

The KTTC recently received a helping hand from Kip Parker, who lead a comprehensive workshop for board members and core volunteers on January 17 and 18. He shared many years of knowledge and experience in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, presenting on topics as diverse as the basics of rehabilitation, board roles and responsibilities, strategic planning, operating framework, volunteer management, centre design, fundraising and budgeting. The wisdom Kip has shared with us will be invaluable both during our current move and for our long-term planning.

T-Shirt Contest

The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre (KTTC) is having a t-shirt contest. Judging for the t-shirt contest will be based on originality (uniqueness of design), creativity, and best interpretation of the KTTC theme. Submissions for the contest will be accepted from February 1, 2009 to Friday, March 27, 2009. The person who submits the winning design will receive a t-shirt featuring thier design, a copy of The Great Big Book of Snakes and Reptiles (donated by Chapters), a pair of tickets to the Canadian Canoe Museum, and media publicity. The design will be posted on the KTTC website.

How to enter: Create a t-shirt design that will represent the KTTC. Entries should be submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper, and they must be in color (no more than 2 colours should be used). A black and white sketch also must be submitted with the entry. The name, address and phone number of the artist must be written on the back of each entry submitted by mail. Entries may also be submitted by email and must include the same information. Entries must be received by 11:59p.m., Friday, March 27, 2009. There is a limit of one entry per person. By submitting a design, entrants agree to have their submissions appear on the KTTC website and the t-shirts to be produced. By accepting the prize, winners grant the KTTC permission and for the use of his/her name, likeness and biographical information and contest submission for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation. All entries become the property of the KTTC and will not be returned. The KTTC t-shirt contest is open to all Ontario residents. Designs must be original artwork.

Please submit designs to: T-shirt Contest, Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre c/o Riverview Park and Zoo, PO Box 4125, Peterborough ON, K9J 6Z5 or info@kawarthaturtle.org.

Additional images from this issue available on Picasa:

Kawartha Turtle Times 2009 Winter

KTTC launches "new" outreach program

2009-01-26T21:39:00.010-05:00

With World Wetlands Day fast approaching, The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre is preparing to launch it's new opt-in distribution list. Subscribers will receive the electronic version of our quarterly newsletter as well as periodic updates on centre news, outreach events, fundraising initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and turtle conservation in general. Opt-in now at http://www.kawarthaturtle.org/subscribe.html.

We regret that our communication has been somewhat sparse over the past year or two. Our dedicated volunteers have been focussed on keeping our turtle patients clean and fed. However, a new batch of enthusiastic volunteers has joined the team to work exclusively on outreach projects. This outreach committee will ensure that our newsletter is published (online and in print) four times a year. We will also be attending more special events around the Kawarthas, and developing new communication products.

With the creation of the outreach committee, launch of the distribution list, and revival of the quarterly newsletter, it seemed fitting to overhaul our blog. The blog will serve as an archive for the newsletter, as well as a place for volunteers to post updates on the patients at the centre.

We hope you enjoy our new outreach program, and that you will consider helping us out by becoming a volunteer or forwarding us turtle news for the newsletter or blog!