Saving Ontario TurtlesA Race Against Time

Species at Risk (SAR) Categories:• Extinct• Extirpated• Endangered (Regulated)• Endangered (Not Regulated)• Threatened• Special Concern• Under Review

Ontario Has 8 Turtle Species:• Blanding’s Turtle • Map Turtle• Painted Turtle• Snapping Turtle• Spiny Softshell Turtle• Spotted Turtle• Stinkpot (Common Musk) Turtle• Wood Turtle

Blanding’s Turtle: ThreatenedEmys (Emydoidea) blandingii

Map Turtle: Special ConcernGraptemys geographica

Painted Turtle: Not at RiskChrysemys picta bellii

Snapping Turtle: Under ReviewChelydra serpentina

Spiny Softshell Turtle: ThreatenedApalone spinifera

Spotted Turtle: Endangered (Not Regulated)

Clemmys guttata

Stinkpot (Common Musk Turtle): Threatened

Sternotherus odoratus

Wood Turtle: ThreatenedGlyptemys (Clemmys) insculpta

Defining Species At Risk (SAR):• decreased population• extinction without protection• extinction in natural range• recovery plan required

Ontario turtles are at-risk due to:• road-kills• loss of habitat• pollution and climate change• disease

Road-kill is the #1 reason that

turtles are at-risk in Ontario!

If you find a turtle on the road:• slow down• avoid hitting it• carry it in direction it was traveling• transport it to wetland

Only 1% of all Ontario turtles eggs survive to adulthood!

Threats to turtle egg survival:• animal predators• dogs • cold weather• development• natural disasters

Turtles leave their home pond to:• find a mate of same species• find an unrelated mate • shrinking wetland• find a nesting site

Turtle habitat protection means:• reducing pollution • preventing fragmentation • protect habitat (set it aside)• conserve habitat (restrict human use)• reducing green house gases

Help save Ontario turtles:• no pet turtles • join conservation clubs • erect crossing signs• tell family and friends

Saving Ontario turtles protects:• biodiversity• positive values• folklore and traditions• nature’s food chain

Turtles are important to Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage:• biodiversity• positive values• folklore and traditions• support food chain

All recovery actions can make a difference for Ontario Turtles.

DO YOUR PART!

Video Gallery

VIDEO: Mature female snapping turtle laying eggs.

QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

VIDEO: Mature female snapping turtle covering nest.

QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

VIDEO: Mature wood turtle walking along roadway and into tall grass.

QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

VIDEO: Two snapping turtles walking over rocks and into tall grasses.

QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Concept: Treena Hein and Betty BiesenthalIllustrations: Graham Ross

Photography: Daryl Coulson, Clayton Rollins, Scott GillingwaterVideo: Daryl CoulsonProgramming: Jeff Fox

Design House | Jeffco Productions

Turtle Profiles: Metro Toronto ZooAssistance for this project was provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources

© Friends of Bonnechere Parks 2008

To learn more, visit: www.bonnecherepark.on.caBe sure to take the interactive quiz to test your understanding of Ontario turtles,

and help turtles beat the odds by playing the interactive turtle game.

Produced in collaboration with the Renfrew County Stewardship Council.