Photo credit: Tom Fisk Road maintenance and construction are an essential part of our modern-day lives, but the impact of these activities on the environment can be dramatic! The effects of these activities on the ecosystem, particularly on turtle populations and wetland areas, are concerning and require our attention! Road construction activities often involve the removal of vegetation, soil compaction, and the use of heavy machinery, which can result in the destruction of turtle habitats and wetland areas, and can cause significant harm to turtles who rely on these areas for nesting. During ..read more

Photo by Andrew Patrick. Turtles are an essential part of our ecosystems and play a vital role in maintaining the balance and health of our environment. They are present in almost every freshwater habitat, including rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Their impact is far-reaching. Turtles are essential in controlling the populations of their prey, such as insects, mollusks, and small fish, which helps to prevent overgrazing of plants and overpopulation. By doing so, they ensure that the ecosystem remains healthy and diverse. Freshwater turtles also help to maintain water quality by feeding on ..read more

Thanks to our Turtles Kingston Coordinators and the support of our community, we had a successful year! This year is coming to a close and before it does, we wanted to look back on Turtles Kingston’s accomplishments over the 2023 turtle season. Below you will find a detailed summary of what we accomplished in all our programs: education program, nesting program, trauma program, science program, advocacy program, and more. But, first to summarize… The Turtles Kingston Team and Organization There have been lots of changes to Turtles Kingston over the last 2 years. Our Director Tara Bauer took ov ..read more

“Grace” the 125 year old Snapping Turtle. Photo credit: Leora Berman. By now you may already be familiar with the story of Grace, the 125 year old Snapping Turtle from Haliburton. She was a beloved celebrity among residents, spotted by locals in the area for at least 40 years. She was often seen meandering right through the middle of the village of Haliburton. Grace was easy to identify due to her missing right eye and distinctively shaped carapace. She was the oldest known Snapping Turtle in the highlands of Ontario, which is no small feat! This tough old girl survived more than 125 years of ..read more

There are 5 species of turtles in the Kingston area that you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of during the nesting season. They are the Blanding's Turtle, Northern Map Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle, Common Snapping Turtle, and the Eastern Musk Turtle. All native turtles in Ontario are protected species, which means it is illegal to disturb their nests or handle their eggs. Turtle eggs are very sensitive and positional, so handling them can kill the embryo! While all the above species generally lay their eggs around the same time of year, incubation ..read more

June is what we consider peak nesting season in Kingston. This is the month you are likely to see a nesting turtle. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know to protect a turtle nest! You’ve found a nesting turtle Mother turtle is done nesting, now what? What are test nests How to protect the nest Nests that cannot be protected How long to leave nest protectors on Submitting data We protect turtle nests to prevent predation! Predator populations have been increased around humans and as a result more nests are being predated than would normally occur. You’ve Found a ..read more

Snapping Turtle under the ice in January in southern Ontario. (Photo source: iNaturalist Canada, photo by Lucas Foerster is licensed under CC-BY-NC) https://inaturalist.ca/observations/67912926 Generally, spring through to late summer is considered “Turtle Season”. When autumn and winter roll around, thoughts veer away from turtles. Do you ever wonder what our turtle friends are doing during the cold of winter? Let’s find out! What happens to turtles in sub zero temperatures? During the winter months, Ontario turtles go into a form of hibernation called brumation. Brumation refers to the hibe ..read more

As late summer begins, a new phase of development and movement occurs with Ontario’s turtles. The newest generation of turtles that we have been trying so hard to protect begin to emerge from their nests - turtle hatchlings! Allow us to share what we know about Ontario’s turtle hatchling population and how we can help them.  Hatchling facts Less than 1% of turtle eggs make it to sexual maturity, mainly due to predation. This is why it is important for us to help hatchlings have their best chance of survival It takes 60 to 90 days for a turtle hatchling to hatch from it’s shell A tur ..read more

Did you know that turtles are a Keystone Species and that other species depend on their presence in the ecosystem? This means that aside from saving turtles to preserve turtle populations, we save turtles to keep wetland ecosystems healthy. Join us in exploring why turtles are an important part of our wetlands. What is a keystone species? A keystone species is a species that other species depend on in an ecosystem, and a species that would dramatically change that ecosystem if it were to disappear.  Turtles are important for various reasons including: They are ‘Wetland Custodians’ The ..read more

A Blanding’s turtle crossing the road It’s turtle season, and we’re in the thick of the best time of year to give turtles a helping hand! We are pleased to see all the turtle warriors out and about helping turtles cross the road safely, driving injured and deceased turtles to wildlife rehab centres, reporting turtle sightings, and even placing and monitoring nest protectors. Our team at Turtles Kingston has been buzzing with volunteer opportunities and determining where turtles could use our help. With all these activities going on centering around keeping turtles safe, it begs the question ..read more