Part of this years field study took place on two of Ontario’s highways. A road mortality survey was conducted to determine areas of increased turtle fatalities. The information gathered throughout the season will be used to help develop effective mitigation strategies and act to facilitate increased survival of our Ontario turtles.
Although the section of highway studied in this years road survey was small. It clearly demonstrated the effects of vehicle encounters with turtles. The findings showed large numbers of Painted, Blanding’s and Snapping turtles fatally injured by vehicles.
Those that were sighted alive, also demonstrated the many reasons that our roads have become so dangerous to our Ontario turtles. Turtles were seen basking on cold days, laying eggs in the gravel, and using the roads themselves as corridors to get from one natural habitat to another.