The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to do their best to help keep turtles safe this summer.
Turtles searching for mates, nesting or warming up on the pavement can easily fall victim to being struck by a vehicle.
Andrew Holland with the NCC said a turtle can take up to 25 to reproduce, so losing one can have a significant effect of the species.
“There eggs survival rates are quite low so only two eggs out of one hundred become adult turtles,” Holland explained “You lose one adult turtle, the loss is 20 years of development.”
Holland said if your driving and see a turtle in the road, reduce your speed and avoid hitting the turtle if possible, or you can pull over and help the turtle cross the road if it is safe to do so.
He explained how to properly help a turtle cross the road.
“With the Blanding’s turtle, the Painted turtle and the Wood turtle, you can pick those ones up almost like your going to eat a hamburger and carry it across the road in the direction it was going,” said Holland.
He added that when moving a snapping turtle, lift them by the back of their shells near their tails and “wheelbarrow” them across the road on their front legs to avoid being injured.
According to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, turtle deaths are a major issue across the country, including in Nova Scotia where there are three turtle species at risk, such as the Blanding’s turtle which is endangered.
Holland says turtles play a huge part in keeping our wetlands clean and healthy by eating dead plants and bugs, so it is important to do our part to keep them safe.
To watch a video from the Nature Conservancy of Canada showing how to properly move a turtle click HERE.
