HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-07-22, Page 9Protecting native species in Huron County
Laura Broadley
Clinton News Record
If you've never heard of
"turtle popping" then con-
sider yourself lucky. It is the
term given to the act of
intentionally running over
turtles in the road to hear to
popping sound.
Turtle popping is contrib-
uting to the hardships
already faced by local
reptiles.
Turtles and other reptiles
are being killed across the
county as a result of habitat
loss, poaching for pets and
through road mortality.
The Reptiles at Risk pres-
entation last Sunday at Hul-
lett Provincial Wildlife Area
was an attempt to educate
the public about the perils
that reptiles face and what
they can do about it.
There were about 30 peo-
ple who came out to hear
Kelsey Crawford and Adam
White from Scales Nature
Park's Reptiles at Risk pro-
gram. The pair customized
their presentation to better
represent Huron County,
explaining what reptiles are
affected in the area.
It's important for people to
see the animals that are
being affected, said Jory
Mullen of the Huron Stew-
ardship Council.
Species are put into three
categories; species of special
concern, threatened or
endangered. In Huron
County the snapping turtle,
milksnake and map turtle
are all considered species of
special concern. The eastern
hognose snake and the
queensnake are considered
threatened and endangered
respectively.
In Ontario, 11 out of 17
snake species, seven out of
1
eight turtle species and the
one lizard species are listed
as species at risk.
None of the other reptiles
have an official label but, as
Mullen explained, that is
often a result of research and
doesn't necessarily reflect
the true status of the animal.
There are ways to help.
Money is being raised to
open the Georgian Bay turtle
hospital. There is only one
other hospital like it and it
will help rehabilitate injured
turtle so they can be released
back into the wild.
The Huron Stewardship
Council recommends help-
ing healthy reptiles across
the road if you see them. It
reminds residents that
there is only one venomous
snake in Ontario and it
doesn't reside in Huron
County.
If you happen upon an
injured turtle on the road
you should put it in a box or
a well ventilated container
with a secure lid. You
should note the location
you found the turtle and it
should not be given any
food or water.
Take them to one of these
locations: Salthaven Wild-
life Rehabilitation Centre in
Mt. Brydges, Turtle Haven
in Kitchener, Kawartha Tur-
tle Trauma Centre in Peter-
borough or the Toronto
Wildlife Centre.
In addition to protecting
the animals efforts are in
place to help protect the
land they live on. The
Thames Talbot Land Trust
and the Upper Thames
River Conservation Author-
ity are holding a "Vistas of
the Thames River " photog-
raphy contest. Entries can
be submitted to the free
contest online at ttlt.ca.
Happy 60th
Anniversary
STU & JOYCE WILSON
July 16, 2015
LLove from your family
1
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 • News Record 9
Photos by Laura Broadley Clinton News Record
Jory Mullen of the Huron Stewardship Council explains what to do
if you find an injured reptile on the road. Turtles have to lay their
eggs on land and in the process cross many roads.
Denver Peet, 6, bravely holds a garter snake as his little brother
Carson, 4, looks on.
An eastern fox snake lives in Ontario and is killed because it is
commonly mistaken for a type of rattlesnake. It is considered
threatened in the province.
The wood turtle is considered an endangered species. There are
only five populations in Ontario and there location is kept secret by
researchers to prevent poaching.
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