Driving through Wellington County and coming across a turtle on the road? A new emergency hotline is now available to assist. The Wellington Turtle Conservation Group recently introduced its hotline in response to the high turtle mortality rate in the county.

Founder of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group, Sandy Nicholls, emphasized the necessity of the hotline due to the abundance of wetlands, gravel pits, and turtles in Wellington County. Previously, individuals would contact the group’s social media platforms regarding stranded turtles without providing specific locations.

The turtle hotline is designed to gather precise information about the exact location of stranded or injured turtles. Nicholls highlighted the significance of the hotline, particularly during nesting season, when male turtles are most active in May and females in June.

The primary turtle species in Wellington County, mainly snapping turtles and painted turtles, are facing a rapid decline according to Nicholls. Factors contributing to this decline include road mortality, habitat loss, and illegal poaching.

Snapping turtles are classified as a species at risk in Ontario, listed under special concern. Additionally, Midland and eastern painted turtles are federally labeled as special concern, with the loss of approximately 70% of wetlands in southern Ontario over the past two centuries contributing to their decline.

Nicholls urged individuals to contact the hotline even if a turtle appears deceased or severely injured. Injured turtles are transferred to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for necessary medical attention, including procedures such as using pins and screws for treatment.

Despite the condition of the turtle, Nicholls advised contacting the hotline, as female turtles may still have viable eggs within them. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre can extract and incubate these eggs for future release into suitable habitats.

The efforts of the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group involve responding to turtle-related calls, safeguarding nests, rescuing hatchlings, and releasing them into optimal environments. Nicholls mentioned that the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre operates its own hotline for reporting injured turtles across Ontario.

To access the Wellington Turtle Conservation Group hotline, individuals can call 226-906-7014.