TURTLES, TURTLES, YEAH!, YEAH! YEAH! AUG. 23-24
ORILLIA — Walk — don’t run — to Scales Nature Park Aug. 23-24.
It’s TurtleFest time at the popular education and conservation facility focused on Canadian reptiles and amphibians.
The free pettng group you see at events is celebrating it’s 10th season by hosting the TurtleFest on Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m,; and again on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
You can see demonstations on how to safely help a turtle across the road.
TurtleFest is a celebration of turtle conservation efforts in the region, including the Saving Turtles at Risk Today (START) Project, and the launch of the Turtle Guardians program, says Jeff Hathaway, the founder of Scales Nature Park and project director for START.
Admission is free with a donation to turtle conservation.
Activities will include public releases of turtle hatchlings from the START project’s egg incubation program at a nearby wetland, games and crafts for kids at the Reptile Camp tent, live music, a food tent and bake sale, research project and community partner displays and lots more.
”The START project has really grown thanks to the tremendous support of our funders and the community of Simcoe-Muskoka,” says Hathaway in a release this week.
“We’ve had tremendous success at reducing turtle road mortality, identifying unknown reptile populations, protecting habitat, and boosting recruitment through our egg incubation program.
“This year, we’ve incubated over 11,000 turtle eggs recovered from roadsides and other precarious locations where protective cages could not be placed. We hope people will come out to see some of the baby turtles be released into the wild!”
START is funded in part by the Canadian Wildlife Federation as part of its Freshwater Turtle program; to learn more visit www.helptheturtles.ca.
Turtle Guardians (www.turtleguardians.com) has recently revamped it’s efforts across the southern edge of the Canadian shield, the area known as The Land Between, which contains about a third of Ontario’s remaining turtle populations.
Hathaway says kids and adults can join this program, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and “level up” as they learn to identify turtle species, monitor populations and participate in Turtle Walks.
Leora Berman, creator of the project, adds: “It’s a tremendous opportunity to engage people across a critical landscape for turtles. Scales Nature Park is a key partner and supporter.”
Turtle technicians will be on hand to show how to help turtles cross the road safely, demonstrate turtle tracking techniques, explain volunteer opportunities and when to contact the START project turtle hotline.
If you spot a “rare, nesting, or injured/dead” turtle in Simcoe-Muskoka, you can call or text the turtle hotline at 705-955-4284 to help our conservation efforts.
At Scales Nature Park the two days you can see baby turtles, learn more about turtle conservation, and have a lot of fun.
The Park is located at the south end of Orillia, just off Hwy. 11 at Oro-Medonte Line 15 South.
Check out www.scalesnaturepark.ca for more details.
For more Information go to: [email protected]
Or call Hathaway at (705) 327-2808.
