By Alexander Campbell

So far this year the Turtle Conservation Committee (TCC) has been very busy with surveys! With just under 212 working hours logged from April – present, the TCC is thankful for all the hard working volunteers! From early April – currently the TCC has been patrolling many high-mortality areas (HMA’s) and recording deceased wildlife, with a focus on Herps and SAR observations to further establish these HMA’s. Unfortunately, volunteers have recorded over 329 observations of wildlife on roads in these areas. From Mid May – currently the TCC has been conducting Nesting and Visual Encounter Surveys of Turtles around Essex County. Most of the species that can be found in Essex County have now been observed nesting, including several rare observations of Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles & a single Eastern Musk Turtle, and most of these nests have been protected. We have protected so many nests this year that we are down to our last few Nest protectors!

During Visual Encounter Surveys, lead biologists were able to take biometric, reproductive data and shell notch from the following turtles; 1 Blanding’s Turtle, 3 Common Snapping Turtles, 1 Northern Map Turtle and an Easter Musk Turtle! Please note that all operations conducted by the TCC are conducted under the permits and authorization of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks.

Please remember to report all sightings of Alive, Deceased or Injured Turtles, Turtle Nests to the Turtle Conservation Committee – Turtle Hotline (226) 348-2057. Reports should include a photo, location of the observation and Date/Time

Do you love Turtles? Always wanted to get hands-on experience in the field? Have some spare time to donate to a fantastic conservation program? 
Join the Essex County Field Naturalist Clubs’ Turtle Conservation Committee!

The Turtle Conservation Committee is committed to protecting and conserving turtles, their nests and habitats in Essex County. While partnering with the local conservation authority and other environmental groups, the goals are to identify overwintering sites, nesting sites, critical habitats and threats to the established populations, and to extend our knowledge of the abundance and distribution of native turtles in Essex County. The major key components of this project will be visual encounter surveys, nest monitoring and protection, and road mortality surveys.

How can you help? 
Volunteer! The Turtle Conservation Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with the various operations of the program! Whether you like Outreach & Education, Field Work or building things with your hands, we have the perfect opportunity for you! 

Outreach & Education: 
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the creation and presentation of educational resources based on turtle conservation for the general public, future events and more!

Field Work: 
The foundation of this committee is built on the active field work and research that is being conducted on the native turtle populations found within Essex County. Starting the week of May 4th, 2025 we will be starting our field operations that require the support and assistance from volunteers! Volunteers will play a crucial role in this project, assisting lead biologists with Visual Encounter Surveys of selected Primary, Opportunistic and Historic Turtle sites. Conducting Road Mortality Surveys to determine mortality “ hotspots” in Essex County. Nesting surveys will also be conducted to locate, record and protect vulnerable nests in Essex County to increase the chance of a successful hatch of the clutch. 

Nest Protector Protection: 
The predation of turtle nests directly impacts the population of turtles in an ecosystem. With a large increase of hyper-abundant species (Skunks, Raccoons, Foxes, etc…) the predation of turtle nests has increased, resulting in hundreds of nests failing to hatch and allowing for the population to increase in a sustainable way. Protecting these nests with nest protectors increases the chances of a successful clutch hatch of 90%. We are looking for volunteers who like to work with their hands to construct these nest protectors. 

Call for Donations: 
We are also looking for donations of:

  • used High-visibility vests/Shirts to ensure those conducting surveys remain safe during their work. 
  • Nets suitable to catch turtles
  • Nest cage materials (Untreated lumber 4″ x 2″, 3″ deck screws, 1/2″ galvanized hardware cloth, Staple gun with staples, 8-10″ steel edging spikes, Washers (of a size appropriate for spikes)

For more information or to become a member of the Turtle Conservation Committee, please send an email to Alexander Campbell  and Kathleen Woodhouse ). Please express what interest(s) you have in the committee.