Turtles in Wellington County may have a better chance of survival thanks to a dedicated group of helpers. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group has set up a “turtle hotline” in hopes that people will call in to report reptiles in distress. “Injured turtles, we will assist turtles nesting – that’s important because then we can get there and we can protect the nests,” Sandy Nicholls, founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group (WTCG), said. The group began almost 10 years ago and has since grown to include 32 volunteers. “I just saw a lot of dead turtles on the road when I was going to work. I thought something needs to be done,” Nicholls explained. The hotline was set up to make sure concerns were reaching the right people in a timely way. “We were getting a lot of very important messages left on our Facebook page that we don’t monitor,” Nicholls said. Anyone who spots a turtle in need of a hand can call 226-906-7014 and a recording will ask them to leave a voicemail with all the necessary information. Nicholls stressed leaving details is crucial so volunteers can find the potentially injured animal. A species at risk Turtles in Ontario face threats from habitat loss and roadside deaths. “All eight species of turtles found here in Ontario are species at risk, at least from a federal perspective,” Sherri Cox, an associate professor at the University of Guelph and the national director of the National Wildlife Centre, said. WTCG volunteers spend time setting and checking traps in wetlands across Wellington County to protect areas where turtles are known to nest. Traps are set up next to busy roadways. “In a snapping turtle, it can take up to 20 years to reach sexual maturity, where they can lay eggs. If a female turtle is killed before that time when she can reproduce, it’s taking her out of the population,” Cox explained. Cox urged people to call for help, even if they believe the animal may already be dead. “A lot of times the turtles may appear that they’ve passes away, but they have not,” she said.
