MANITOULIN—The new Friends of Manitoulin Turtles group are trying to get ‘Watch for Turtles’ signage installed in places where turtles are predominant on Manitoulin and provide education to members of the public on how to protect turtles.
“One of the first initiatives we decided we need to do is to install turtle crossing signage in areas where turtles are close to and travel across roads and highways,” said Amelia Wood, a member of the new ‘Friends of’ group. “We now have two signs located at the area of Newburn Road in Kagawong where there is a lot of turtle mortality. From the hill down to the swamp area on the side of the road is a death trap for animals, and we have a sign going up soon at Highway 6 at the boundary of Assiginack township.”
The two signs in Kagawong were unveiled last week. “This is a great ecosystem and habitat for many species, like turtles, deer, bear, reptiles and invertebrates,” said Billings Mayor Bryan Barker. “And turtles will travel across the road or lay their eggs on the shoulder of the road. This signage is a great initiative to try and protect the turtles and their eggs. Billings township is happy to be part of this initiative.”
“The signage has been donated by Theodore Flamand, coordinator of the Wiikwemkoong Species at Risk program,” said Ms. Wood. Billings provided the hardware for mounting the signs and the posts. She pointed out the Friends of group is fundraising to install permanent signage, and Mayor Barker encouraged her group to send a letter to Billings council requesting support for this.
“We want to educate people on turtles, as there is a lot of misinformation out there on them,” said Ms. Wood. “We want to provide information to the public on how to identify and get to know the four species of turtles we have locally on the Island, Blanding turtles, common snapping turtles and midland painted. Those three species are found on the land and live in ponds the majority of the time. Northern Map Turtle can be found on the big water, and the biggest risk to them and their eggs is with boats.”
As humans, “we’ve built infrastructure that has impacted wetlands and in turn turtles,” said Ms. Wood. “Turtles are wanderers, and their populations have been knocked down significantly over the past 200 years. They were here before the dinosaurs.”
Ms. Wood pointed out the Friends of Manitoulin Turtles group actually started, “in January of last year we held our first Zoom meeting, and we have been meeting by Zoom almost every month since. We had a booth set up last week at the Manitoulin Streams Outdoor Angling Trade Fair and it was the first time that everyone in our group actually met.” “Right now, we are at six members and we are always looking for more to join our group. And now that we are getting out, volunteering to man booths at events like the trade fair, we can provide displays of different turtles, provide information on them, and display nest protectors for turtles,” said Ms. Wood.
“The formation of our group all started last year through Mr. Flamand. He’s been doing a lot of work in Wiikwemkoong involving turtles and expressed an interest in getting groups started for all of Manitoulin Island,” said Ms. Wood.
“Our members are located across the Island, representing various committees,” said Ms. Wood, noting that Mr. Flamand stepped back a bit, “but is still providing the friends of group with a lot of background support and information. He has been tremendously helpful through all of this.”
Ms. Wood said the building of turtle mounds are very important to attract turtles to build their nests, keep them off roads/highways and provide a safe area for them to lay and nest their eggs. “There are a lot of options for building turtle mound areas. The challenge is Manitoulin Island lands are all privately owned. But landowners can provide areas to attract turtles and keep them on their properties (instead of potentially fatally crossing roads and highways.” She pointed out that once turtles lay their eggs, there are nest protectors available that protect them and their eggs. “Wiikwemkoong has several nesting enclosures at Prairie Pointe Marsh using chicken wire with gravel at the base. There was one built in Sheshegwaning First Nation last year and another is slated to be constructed in Zhiibaahaasing First Nation this or next year.”
Homeowners can also build turtle mounds to attract them to lay their eggs there, as well as nest enclosures on their property that will keep turtles from travelling on the road.
“We are working with Whitefish River First Nation (WRFN) and PhD candidate Reta Meng under Dr. Patricia Chow Fraser, who are allowing us to share their data collection for turtle sightings, and road kills, for future remedies.”
On the Friends of Manitoulin Turtles site May 26 it is explained, “If you see a turtle on the road, we want to know! If you see a dead turtle or any other dead animal, we want to know that too.”
“It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. See a turtle, alive or dead, or any other dead animal. Answer the questions (on the survey) and hit Submit.”
“If you don’t have the time to do it right when you see the animal, that’s okay! Submissions can be added at any time,” the site explains. “McMaster University and Whitefish River First Nation are gathering data along Highway 6 and on Manitoulin Island to help us all gain a better understanding of the impacts roadways have on wildlife. This research may be used to help identify locations for wildlife crossing signs or other measures. “
“Friends of Manitoulin Turtles loves to hear about turtles. If you see a turtle and don’t know if you should use the survey, or you just want to share a cool turtle encounter, email us at manitoulinturtles@gmail.com, or shoot us a private message on Facebook.”
