Winter/Spring 2010 Newsletter
Monday, May 31, 2010
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:
Thank you also to:
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.
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