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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-08-31, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Walton Raceway puts forth effort to save numerous baby turtles Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor The Walton Raceway invited the public to help with the release of about 35 turtles they had found on the racetrack a couple months prior. During a race event last June, Chris Lee, who estab- lished the raceway some 40 years ago, saw a female turtle laying eggs on the track. Since the location is part- nered with the Toronto Zoo in a program to protect wet- land and amphibians, Lee knew the severity of the situation. He instantly grabbed a stick to mark where the tur- tle had left the eggs as he knew that by the time he returned the mother would most likely be gone. Most turtles leave to let their off- spring survive on their own after laying the eggs. Knowing how important this was, Lee passed the information on to his son, Brett Lee, President & General Manager for Walton Raceway and his significant other, Seaforth BIA chair- woman, Melody Hodgson. "Brett called and said 'are you coming out to the track, I wasn't at that point, well there is a snapping turtle lay- ing eggs on the track," Hodg- son described the conversa- tion that led her to the turtles. Hodgson and Chris Lee had recently been to a pres- entation by the Huron Stew- ardship Council (HSC) where they showed the Shaun Gregory Here is one of the two females that laid eggs on the racetrack. people in attendance numerous situations and one thing they talked about was salvaging eggs. After calling HSC and numerous other sources connected to wildlife, she was instructed exactly what to do. As soon as she iifi�[•TM1F/FICI'7 W returned, Hodgson dug the eggs out and very gently put them in a Tupperware con- tainer with dirt. This process had to be pre- cise because if the eggs are turned upside-down, the turtles could drown, she said. Within a week, Hodgson found another turtle laying eggs on the racetrack again. "People were probably thinking I was purposely finding them," Hodgson joked. Jory Mullen, lead species technician at the HSC, had been in contact with her boss who informed her about the findings at the Walton Raceway. Mullen received all the eggs and immediately started the incubation stage. If the raceway had not found these turtles, Mullen said the survival rate would be less than one per cent. As well, Nicole Devereaux holds one of the baby turtles August 23 at the Walton Raceway. Last June during a race, a female turtle laid eggs on the racetrack and within the same week another female also laid eggs around the same vicinity. the Expositor has learned from information by HSC that besides the painted tur- tle all species of turtles are currently at risk in Ontario. With a scientific format the incubation stage had begun. Mullen placed all the eggs in vermiculite, which is a volcanic ash that retains water, something she calls the perfect moisture. Most incubation periods take between 65-70 days, depending on what the tem- perature is set at. One inter- esting fact is the temperature can also determine what sex the turtles will be. ''. RITZ LUTHERAN VILLA °•.,".�I NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the Members of Ritz Lutheran Villa, a charitable corporation, will be held at Lockhart Reception Centre, 116 Montreal St., Mitchell, Ontario on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 7:30 pm to: • Receive Reports including financial statements, together with the Auditor's Report. • Elect Directors as required. •Appoint Auditors. •Transact other business as may be properly presented at the meeting. Annual members are cordially invited to attend this meeting. A reminder that all members must renew membership prior to attending the AGM. Annual memberships may be purchased up to and including Friday, September 2, 2016 at the business office at Ritz Lutheran Villa during regular business hours. "So I made all the turtles, females, it's like Jurassic Park stuff," Mullen told the Expos- itor August 23. She did this to boost the snapping turtle population. At the Raceway, Mullen accompanied by Brett, Chris and Hodgson invited the public to watch as the hatch- lings were released into the nearby pond. Children and adults had the chance to pick up the turtles before they were released as Mullen explained to the youngsters why this is so important for the turtle's survival. Out of the two batches of eggs roughly six did not make it, a number Mullen called "really good." Mullen will be releasing more turtles in the first week of September at the Morri- son Dam in Exeter. The tur- tles recovered were from a female turtle that had been struck by a vehicle on the road. SUTHERLAND GIC RATE* 2.27% *sum�crncxux� SUBJECT TO CHANGE ELLMY T • AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • FARM • TRAVEL • LIFE CA40.1Weidat CAIB, CIP PH: 519-345-2" 3386 80 R2RRd.1ON 226-423-3035 NOK 1YO EIRCTORY 1JOfliRC'H (E[19 You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN 21 St., Seaforth Church Office 519-527-1522 holyspirit@tcc.on.ca Rev. Shaun Eaton - Deacon -in -Charge Sunday, September 4 Worship at 9:30am Everyone Welcome ACW meets Tues. Sept. 6 at 1:30 EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH NO WORSHIP September 4 - Grandparents Day September 11 Everyone Welcome For more information view our website www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com MI lra BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Interim Pastor: Rev. Laurie Morris Sept 4-10 am Sinlessness - Part A Sept 11- 11 am (time change) Sinlessness - Part B Sept 11-6 pm "Behold Your God" video a1 Tuesday Evenings: Youth Group - 6:30 - 9 pm B&G Club - 6:45 pm (starts Sept 13) L\' EVERYONE WELCOME FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Rev. Dwight Nelson Lorrie Mann - Organist Sunday Worship September 4 - 11am Pork Chop BBQ Sept. 15 Tickets at Blooms n' Rooms Sunday School resumes NurseryALL ProvidedELCOME as Needed e..,.‘.W iifi�[•TM1F/FICI'7 W returned, Hodgson dug the eggs out and very gently put them in a Tupperware con- tainer with dirt. This process had to be pre- cise because if the eggs are turned upside-down, the turtles could drown, she said. Within a week, Hodgson found another turtle laying eggs on the racetrack again. "People were probably thinking I was purposely finding them," Hodgson joked. Jory Mullen, lead species technician at the HSC, had been in contact with her boss who informed her about the findings at the Walton Raceway. Mullen received all the eggs and immediately started the incubation stage. If the raceway had not found these turtles, Mullen said the survival rate would be less than one per cent. As well, Nicole Devereaux holds one of the baby turtles August 23 at the Walton Raceway. Last June during a race, a female turtle laid eggs on the racetrack and within the same week another female also laid eggs around the same vicinity. the Expositor has learned from information by HSC that besides the painted tur- tle all species of turtles are currently at risk in Ontario. With a scientific format the incubation stage had begun. Mullen placed all the eggs in vermiculite, which is a volcanic ash that retains water, something she calls the perfect moisture. Most incubation periods take between 65-70 days, depending on what the tem- perature is set at. One inter- esting fact is the temperature can also determine what sex the turtles will be. ''. RITZ LUTHERAN VILLA °•.,".�I NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the Members of Ritz Lutheran Villa, a charitable corporation, will be held at Lockhart Reception Centre, 116 Montreal St., Mitchell, Ontario on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 7:30 pm to: • Receive Reports including financial statements, together with the Auditor's Report. • Elect Directors as required. •Appoint Auditors. •Transact other business as may be properly presented at the meeting. Annual members are cordially invited to attend this meeting. A reminder that all members must renew membership prior to attending the AGM. Annual memberships may be purchased up to and including Friday, September 2, 2016 at the business office at Ritz Lutheran Villa during regular business hours. "So I made all the turtles, females, it's like Jurassic Park stuff," Mullen told the Expos- itor August 23. She did this to boost the snapping turtle population. At the Raceway, Mullen accompanied by Brett, Chris and Hodgson invited the public to watch as the hatch- lings were released into the nearby pond. Children and adults had the chance to pick up the turtles before they were released as Mullen explained to the youngsters why this is so important for the turtle's survival. Out of the two batches of eggs roughly six did not make it, a number Mullen called "really good." Mullen will be releasing more turtles in the first week of September at the Morri- son Dam in Exeter. The tur- tles recovered were from a female turtle that had been struck by a vehicle on the road. SUTHERLAND GIC RATE* 2.27% *sum�crncxux� SUBJECT TO CHANGE ELLMY T • AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • FARM • TRAVEL • LIFE CA40.1Weidat CAIB, CIP PH: 519-345-2" 3386 80 R2RRd.1ON 226-423-3035 NOK 1YO