05/23/2026
๐ข Happy World Turtle Day! ๐ข
Today, we are highlighting Ontarioโs largest, most misunderstood reptile: the Common Snapping Turtle.
With dinosaur-like ridges, snapping turtles look incredibly tough. But behind that armor, they are highly vulnerableโand right now, they urgently need our help.
๐ฅ THE BIGGEST THREAT: ROAD MORTALITY ๐ฅ
Nesting season is kicking off across Ontario, meaning female turtles are moving overland to lay eggs. Soft gravel road shoulders look like the perfect nesting spots to them. Because snapping turtles are slow and cannot pull themselves inside their shells for protection, crossing a road is often fatal.
Why every single adult turtle matters:
โข Slow to grow: It takes a snapping turtle nearly 20 years to reach breeding age.
โข Low survival: Less than 1% of turtle eggs successfully make it to adulthood.
โข Hard to replace: Losing just one adult female sets local populations back by decades.
โ ๏ธ CRITICAL UPDATE ON PROTECTION STATUS โ ๏ธ
Recent major changes to Ontarioโs environmental laws have completely eliminated provincial protections for species classified as โSpecial Concernโโincluding the Snapping Turtle. With the province rolling back these direct safeguards, grassroots community conservation and individual action are now more vital to their survival than ever before.
๐ข HOW YOU CAN HELP THIS TURTLE SEASON ๐ข
1 Drive with caution: Scan road shoulders near wetlands, lakes, and rivers.
2 Help them cross: If safe, move them in the exact direction they were heading. For snappers, use a shovel, car mat, or towel to slide them safely from behindโnever lift them by the tail.
3 Report injuries: If you find an injured turtle, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center immediately. They can often save the turtle, or safely harvest and incubate her eggs.
Letโs protect Ontarioโs wetlands by keeping our prehistoric neighbors safe!
