Many Ontario turtles and snakes are endangered species
To the Expositor:
At this time of year drivers need to be on the lookout for turtles trying to cross the road. Every year I come across dead turtles and snakes in my travels. This year I found two turtles and one snake. All three were in places with slow speed limits where they should have been easy to avoid hitting. I found a dead painted turtle today, on Ketchankookem Trail near Mindemoya, where the speed limit is 40 kilometres per hour. If that speed is slow enough to avoid toddlers, it should be slow enough to avoid turtles. So what happened? Was the driver speeding, or not watching the road? Or was the driver trying to kill this vulnerable animal? Painted turtles move during the day, so it was likely run over in the morning. Poor visibility at night was not likely a factor.
Many Ontario turtles and snakes have become species at risk, their numbers steadily shrinking. We drain their swamps for our homes and cottages, leaving less and less habitat for them, and kill them on roads. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but often I think a more careful driver could have safely avoided them.
Jan McQuay
Mindemoya
