St. Clair Region Conservation Authority staff were excited to release 24 northern map turtle hatchlings back into the Sydenham River. The hatchlings were part of two nests that were rescued in June. They were found along a roadside and under a threat of being lost. “When a nest is under threat we like to step in and do what we can to save the eggs,” said John Jimmo, Fisheries Technician with the Conservation Authority. “If we find a nest that is in a safe location, we leave it alone and let nature take its course,” Jimo said. Once the eggs were collected from the nests they were transferred to Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre for incubation under a special permit from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

The northern map turtle is a Special Concern species under the federal Species at Risk Act and provincial Endangered Species Act and is also a specially protected reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Declining numbers in the population have led to the designation of special concern. Some of the causes for the decline include habitat loss or degradation; water pollution; boating and road mortalities; and the decline in molluscs, a primary food source for female turtles. Reproduction can also be challenging for the northern map turtle. Females don’t reach breeding maturity for nearly 12 years and only produce 10-17 eggs which have a high mortality rate from foxes and raccoons raiding the nests.

“It’s great that we were able to save these nests and be able to release the hatchlings back into the river and hopefully provide them with a good start to their lives,” said Kelli Smith Biological Technician with Conservation Authority.

For more information on the northern map turtle visit our Sydenham River Species at Risk website at www.sydenhamriver.on.ca