Aug 29, 2019
OTTAWA, Aug. 29, 2019_ The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is reminding the public to drive carefully around wetlands as hundreds of turtle hatchings will soon be released back into the wild.
“CWF’s Ottawa team collected and incubated over 600 Blanding’s, Northern Map and Snapping turtle eggs in the Ottawa area this year,” said Rick Bates, CEO. “The release of these hatchings back to the areas where they were found is part of CWF’s comprehensive turtle conservation program, which is also working to help mitigate the impact of road mortality on at-risk turtles in Eastern and Central Ontario. In road surveys conducted the last two years in the Ottawa-area, over 1,000 dead turtles were found. These included over 100 Blanding’s Turtles, a threatened species in Ontario.”
Currently all of Canada’s freshwater turtles are listed as species at risk by the federal government and road mortality is a major threat to most of them.
While the exact locations of turtle releases are being kept secret to protect the endangered species, the public can follow @CWF_FCF on Twitter and Instagram, or like @CanadianWildlifeFederation on Facebook to see photos and videos of the hatchlings.
“We are very thankful for all the members of the public who helped us locate the eggs and protect the turtles from predators until they are ready to be released back into the wild,” said Bates. “Now we have do more for wildlife by slowing down around wetlands. These tiny hatchlings and other juvenile and adult turtles need our ongoing help.”
For more information visit HelpTheTurtles.ca.
About the Canadian Wildlife Federation:
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, conducting research, taking action to conserve habitat and wildlife, recommending legislative and policy changes, and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. Visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca for more information.
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Contact:
David DeRocco, Sr. Marketing Manager
davidd@cwf-fcf.org
1-877-599-5777 x 279
905-975-4672
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