Kelly Wallace, managing director and founder of the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative, said her team often starts around 5 a.m. and doesn’t finish until 8 to 10 p.m. The non-profit is based in Bancroft but provides turtle conservation education and assistance across the province. They split their days between answering phone calls, Facebook messages, and emails and doing work out in the field. Every day is different, but they’re often installing nest protectors and coordinating plans to rescue injured turtles. June is typically their busiest time, and this year is no exception despite the inconsistent temperatures.

“It’s got the turtles a bit mixed up because they’re so sensitive to environmental change,” Wallace said. “The snapping turtles, which are pretty much the most sensitive to the environmental change, they’re really just starting to get nesting.”

Every year, turtle conservationists across the province try to plan for the busy season, but it all comes down to the transition between winter and spring, Wallace said. The change between seasons dictates the reproduction timeline, and it’s always different. 

Her team has seen a lot of digging and other activity from snapping turtles, but they haven’t fully settled into nesting. Looking at the weather forecast, a cooler end to June and high temperatures in July are a good indication that most nesting activity will happen over the next few weeks, taper off during cooler temperatures, and pick back up in July.

Climate change has impacted turtle habits in a few ways. One of those is the increased tendency to overwinter in their nests. Turtle hatchlings will remain in an underground nest throughout the winter before emerging from April to early June. The Think Turtle team saw one emerge at the end of last week. It’s yet another testament to this year’s unusual weather patterns, and the heat anticipated next month is expected to have its own effects.

“If we’re going to have a really, really hot summer, then that means that we probably are going to end up having more female hatchlings because the sex is dependent on the temperature,” she said. “There’s more females when it’s hot and then when it’s cooler, there’s more males.”

The same is true in each individual nest. The eggs at the top of the nest that get more sunlight are more likely to be females. In the middle of the nest, it will be a mix of sexes while the eggs toward the bottom are more likely to be male.

Despite the many effects of climate change, one thing has stayed consistent: getting struck by a vehicle remains one of the greatest threats to Ontario’s turtles. As of June 11, the number of intakes at the turtle hospital was 1,128, double what they had at the same time last year. It’s a significant increase that’s both good and bad; the number of injured turtles is shocking, but they’re getting better care than ever before.

One of the biggest things members of the public can do is simply watch the road and surrounding areas for turtles and other wildlife. Road mortality is a major contributor to population decline in turtles and other animals, so though Ontario is lucky to have a turtle hospital, it’s better to reduce the need for their services, especially when it comes to avoidable injuries on the road.

“It’s one of those things where it’s really jarring to think of that many turtles being largely hit by vehicles, but also, it is remarkable the number of people that are helping and stopping and making sure that the turtles get to the turtle hospital,” she said.

For people who want to get more involved in turtle conservation, there are a range of ways to help. People with nests on their property can install nest protectors. Nest protectors are available for purchase across the province and Think Turtle offers instructions on how property owners can make their own.

The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), home to the turtle hospital in Peterborough, has a network of volunteers called turtle taxi drivers. The drivers help coordinate travel for injured turtles to ensure they receive timely medical attention. Long-distance trips can be split up by multiple volunteers, so volunteers in areas like Muskoka can be a valuable asset.

Another great way to help is by assisting turtles across the road when it’s safe to do so. It’s important to move turtles in the direction they’re already headed; otherwise, they’re likely to double back and cross the road again. When handling turtles, people should wear gloves, hold the turtle low to the ground to avoid damage to their shells if they’re dropped, and never hold turtles by their tails.

Smaller turtles can be picked up by the middle of their shell, but since snappers have such long necks, they should be handled from the back of their shell. Volunteers can either slide their hand under the back of the turtle like a pizza box, put their hands on either side of the tail to lift, or use a shovel to move the animal. 

Locals can help with data collection by reporting turtle sightings in the Simcoe-Muskoka region to the Saving Turtles At Risk Today (S.T.A.R.T.) Turtle Project at 705-955-4284. They take calls for sightings of rare species or nesting females as well as injured or dead turtles.  People can also call the OTCC at 705-741-5000 to report injured turtles.

“When people stop to help an injured turtle and they report it to the turtle hospital, they should make sure that they do that when they’re with the turtle,” Wallace said. “Because once you drive away from the turtle, if it’s injured and if it does actually manage to be mobile enough that they can get back into the wild, the chances of it surviving without medical care, it’s very debatable.”

Remaining at the site gives turtle taxi drivers and other volunteers the best possible opportunity to locate and secure injured turtles. Soon, the turtles may not have to travel so far.

The S.T.A.R.T. Turtle Project collaborates with the Georgian Bay Turtle Hospital. They’re not ready to provide rehabilitative services yet, but they hope to become the second designated turtle hospital in the province to expand options for treatment and to reduce the environmental impact of transporting injured turtles. 

While it’s devastating to see so many injured animals, Wallace said Ontario is lucky to have the resources it does. She started working in turtle conservation in 2016 and founded Think Turtle two years later. In the years since she started, she’s seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who are interested in turtle conservation. 

She said more people are talking about turtles and nature as a whole, so it’s been amazing to see the shift. She’s glad that more and more people are mindful of their time on the road and willing to help turtles along the way, particularly considering the toll humans have taken on their territory.

“We built the roads and basically we fragmented their habitat and their natural corridors,” she said. “We get to hear more and more about people that are stopping safely to help move turtles in the direction they were headed, and that right there, that’s a citizen-based conservation effort that makes such a huge difference.”

For more information about turtle conservation, visit the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative online.

Turtle Hooked On Your Fishing Line? Here’s What To Do

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Secret World of Sound premieres on CBC TV and CBC Gem at 9 p.m. on Feb. 15, but viewers will have to wait until the third episode comes out on Feb. 29 to see the wolf pups in action. The three-part series delves into how wildlife uses sound to mate, mingle and manage survival, some even before they fully emerge into the world. Host Anthony Morgan guides viewers through stories set in places like Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa as well as several parts of Canada. The series features familiar sounds, such as wolf howls and elk bugles, and sounds humans need technology to detect.

“There are an awful lot of animals out there that are making sounds that we can’t hear like the treehopper, for example, that we feature in episode [two],” said Dugald Maudsley, executive producer and writer for the series. “They communicate using vibrations. Honeybees are the same. One scientist explained to us there are about 200,000 species that communicate in ways that are silent to us.”

Focusing on the auditory experience translated to long periods spent recording sounds for the film. Showcasing sounds that are undetectable to the human ear also meant the crew had to get creative. One tool that helped them was a vibrometer, which is typically used to measure vibrations in machinery and structures, like the vibrations on the wing of a plane. 

For the documentary, the vibrometer allowed the team to capture and amplify the sound of the treehoppers’ mating calls and other communications. The technology opened up a hidden world, Maudsley said, and the emphasis on sound also crafted his approach to writing the script.

It’s always important to focus the writing on what the viewer can’t see when it comes to writing for natural history, he said. In this case, the usual emphasis on wildlife imagery shifted to include sounds as well.

“It was realizing we’ve got to make space as well for these extraordinary sounds and let them be heard, so the writing really had to be sparse, the music had to be sparse,” he said. “Like music, the writing had to be there at the correct time.”

Maudsley said putting together a story-driven documentary came down to finding the best sound stories, some of which were found in Canadian locales. 

In Alberta’s grasslands, male sharp-tailed grouse do a fanciful coordinated dance and coo to attract a female. Not far away in Waterton Lake National Park, elk fight and bugle during rutting season. In other parts of the country, great grey owls use sound to locate prey and wolf pups howl to alert their siblings of danger.

“All these stories are really unique, very Canadian and quite revealing,” he said.

For Muskoka residents, the story of the wolf pups comes closest to home. The eastern wolves of Algonquin Park are an everpresent but elusive feature of the area. They use a wavering howl to make their packs seem bigger than they are, and when they leave to hunt, they call out in a chorus.

Most of the segment about the wolves focuses on the way wolf pups howl to survive. Before they’re old enough to hunt but too big to stay in the den, wolf pups stay in designated areas called rendezvous sites. They have to learn to howl to protect themselves, and it’s a delicate balancing act that can draw out more danger. 

“For the average person, even someone living up there, I don’t think it’s that easy to get out and see the wolves like we show you in the film,” Maudsley said. “Then of course, there’s the added layer which is understanding what’s going on, especially with these pups [since] many of them don’t make it past their first year of life.”

Gaining enough access to the wolves to film was no easy feat, so the crew brought in naturalists Michael and Britta Runtz to help them track the animals. They travelled 13,000 kilometres over five weeks to locate the wolves so that cameraman and director of photography Hugo Kitching could get the shots he needed.

The crew was able to capture a special view of the wolves and their habits, including a tense encounter between pups and a black bear, which provided a wonderful way to showcase great Canadian wildlife.

“That story is a real insight into a creature that’s kind of iconic for this part of Ontario and pretty unique worldwide,” he said. “To be able to actually see those wolves in action, to see what’s happening with them, to see how they deal with this situation, how they use their wolf howl to manage that, to me, that’s super unique.”

As a journalist and documentary filmmaker, Maudsley has covered human rights issues like trafficking, genocide and civil war, so making a series about the wonders of the world is a pleasure, he said. It’s positive and almost “life-affirming” to understand the world of communication animals are using to survive.

One of Maudsley’s colleagues, a longtime film editor, said it was a delight to simply sit and listen to the sounds from the film. In fact, it was nearly therapeutic. In all the hundreds of films he had cut together, the sounds from this one struck a chord.

Maudsley hopes the series will have a similar effect on its viewers. The documentary crew had a lot of fun telling the story and letting the animals say their part.

“By getting inside that world and being able to tap into that communication, we’re really able to see these dramatic stories unfold,” he said. “A flamingo chick getting lost and being found again, the wolves howling to protect themselves, all those things are really fascinating and only are available to us because of the way we were able to record the sound, and as a result of that, the story that we’re able to tell.”

Tune into CBC TV or CBC Gem at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 15, 22 and 29 to watch Secret World of Sound. Watch a trailer for the series below.

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On July 18, 2023, at the Palais de Justice in Montréal, Quebec, Tran Dinh Tuan Vu was fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to one count of violating the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act. On July 25, 2023, Thi Kim Loan Nguyen pleaded guilty to one count and Minh Truong Hai Nguyen to four counts of violating the same Act. Thi Kim Loan Nguyen was fined $5,000 and Minh Truong Hai Nguyen $24,000. The fines will be paid to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.

The sentences were handed down by the Court following reports concerning illegal trade activities that took place between May 2017 and August 2018. During their investigation, wildlife enforcement officers found that the three individuals had transported or had illegally possessed black bear gall bladders for the purpose of transporting them from New Brunswick to Quebec. In so doing, the individuals committed offences under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.

The investigation was carried out as part of Operation Pochette, an operation aimed at dismantling a trafficking network for gall bladders and other parts of black bears. The joint operation was conducted in collaboration with the provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free subscription service to help Canadians stay current with what the Government of Canada is doing to protect our natural environment.

• The high prices of black bear parts, particularly gall bladders, which can be higher than those of some illegal drugs, have propelled criminal networks to use sophisticated methods to carry out illegal poaching, trafficking, imports and exports.
• In 1992, the American Black Bear was added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to protect it from the overharvesting resulting from the illegal trade of bear parts, specifically, gall bladders.
• Interprovincial and international trade in, and the transport of, bear gall bladders are prohibited in Canada, as per the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.
• Subsection 7(2) of the Act states that no person shall transport from a province to another province any part of an animal in contravention of any provincial Act or regulation. Paragraph 8(b) of the Act states that no person shall knowingly possess any part of an animal for the purpose of transporting it from one province to another province in contravention of the Act.
• The majority of Canada’s provinces and territories prohibited the possession of bear gall bladders between the late 1980s and the early 1990s in order to reduce pressure on bear populations in Canada.
• Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund helps ensure that court-awarded penalties are used to repair environmental damage or benefit the environment. The Fund receives and redirects the money from court penalties and settlements and aims to invest in areas where the environmental damage occurred.

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Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions while keeping yourself safe:

• Always be alert and slow down when you see wildlife crossing signs.
• Keep a safe distance from other vehicles.
• Be especially aware of wildlife when driving near wetlands, rivers, lakes and ponds.

Road mortality is a leading cause of population decline in turtles. In Ontario, 7 of the 8 species of turtles are considered at risk. Given that turtles are long-lived species that don’t reach reproductive maturing until they are 8–25 years old, together with a low survival rate for hatchlings and juveniles, seemingly small increases in the mortality rates can have significant impacts on their populations.

Here are some tips to help keep Ontario’s turtles safe:

• Watch for what might look like a dark bump or an oil slick on the road.
• Help turtles cross the road, if it’s safe to do so. Move them in the direction they were heading.
• Take caution while driving during their nesting season, which runs between May and July.
• Report any turtle injuries or deaths to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.

Snakes play a critical role in Ontario’s diverse ecosystems. Sadly, they are also victims of road mortality, especially during the spring. Many snakes such as the Massasauga rattlesnake, will use roads to warm their bodies on the sun-soaked asphalt.

Fear is one reason why people may avoid helping snakes. Some drivers will carefully attempt to swerve around a snake, while others will intentionally kill them. Overall, species at risk can account for up to 30% of all road mortalities involving Ontario’s snakes.

Overhead crossings or underpasses (eco-passages) provide a safe way for wildlife to cross roadways. Some eco-passages in Ontario are particularly beneficial for endangered snakes to pass. More of these structures as well as wildlife crossing signs will help significantly with reducing roadkill.

We must all do our part to keep Ontario’s wildlife safe, especially while driving.

The post Watch For Wildlife On The Road This Spring To Reduce Roadkill appeared first on Muskoka411.

Drivers are encouraged to use the following tips to reduce their risk of being involved in a collision with wildlife.

• When driving, scan the road ahead from shoulder to shoulder. If there is wildlife beside the road, slow down, stay alert and pass carefully. Animals can be unpredictable.

• Deer and many other wild animals are most active at dusk and dawn.

• When driving at night, use high beams where possible and watch for glowing eyes of animals.

• Watch for the yellow wildlife warning signs that indicate areas of increased risk. Slow down when travelling through these areas. Slowing down gives you more time to react.

• If an animal jumps out in front of your motor vehicle, brake firmly to slow down safely. Stay in your lane and never swerve suddenly. Swerving could cause loss of control and result in a more serious collision.

• Never assume the animal will move out of your way. And remember, if one animal crosses the road, others may follow.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision, stay calm and pull off the road safely and turn on your hazard lights. Check for any injuries to yourself or your passengers. If the collision resulted in damage or personal injury, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 9-1-1 if there is an emergency.

Being aware and taking precautions can reduce collisions, save lives and protect wild animals. The Ontario Provincial Police is committed to public safety, delivering proactive and innovative policing in partnership with our communities.

The post Slow Down For Wildlife Says Haliburton Highlands OPP appeared first on Muskoka411.

The good news is that you can greatly reduce the likelihood of wild animals taking shelter in your home or cottage, and we would like to offer a handful of suggestions to get you started on your journey towards “wildlife proofing” your property.

Step 1. Remove Access to Food Sources

• Ensure that all trash bags are tied tightly and stored in a secure trash bin. Also, don’t forget to clean your bins on a regular basis to prevent animals from being attracted to the smell of household waste.
• Keep your kitchen and all areas of your home free of crumbs and spills.
• Feed pets inside, and store pet food in critter-proof containers.
• Keep your yard free of fallen fruit, pinecones and acorns, which wild animals may view as food sources.
• If you choose to have a bird feeder in the winter months, place it far from your home, and be certain to clean up spills periodically.
• And don’t forget to protect your outdoor living area – clean and cover grills, and bring outdoor cushions inside so that neither become a cozy nest.

Step 2. Seal Entry Points – Big and Small

• Install chimney and vent covers.
• Seal entrances to the spaces under your porch, deck stairs or shed with wire mesh that is anchored into the ground.
• Check your roof for holes, and regularly clean the soffit and drainage system, including eavestroughs.
• Inspect windows and doors for cracks and holes that could offer entrances for animals.
• Install window-well grates to protect your basement windows.
• Check for, and repair, cracks and holes in the siding and foundation of your home. Not only is this a concern for basement flooding, but it’s an entryway for mice.
• Also, keep all plants around your house trimmed. Animals looking for shelter may use branches, shrubs and vines to access vulnerable parts of your home.

Understandably, finding every nook and cranny can be a challenge. Mice and squirrels have been known to squeeze through the most absurdly-small cracks. And yet, there is no denying that your home will be far less appealing if you eliminate the snacks and close the gates.

Importantly, the best time to be sealing entry points is late fall. While the majority of babies leave their nests by the end of August, it is not uncommon for squirrels to be born in September. That said, if you are preparing to seal a hole, please check first to ensure that there are no animals inside. If you’re uncertain, simply crumple up a paper towel and put it in the entrance. If it gets pushed out, you likely have a visitor and can call someone for help.

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is happy to provide guidance on how to encourage wild animals to leave your home, by making it less hospitable for them. That said, patience is a prerequisite. If you are unwilling to host a family of squirrels or raccoons for even a short period of time, we ask that you utilize a humane option.

While many organizations will claim to “humanely” trap and remove animals from your home, this does not guarantee the humane treatment of these animals after they are removed from your property. The best businesses are the ones that treat all animals with the utmost respect – regardless of the species or the company’s bottom line. Not only will such companies remove animals humanely, they are also experienced in reuniting moms with their babies by enabling the mothers to take young to secondary dens. A reputable company will also assist you in keeping all critters out by repairing entry holes and wildlife proofing other potential entry points.

A word to the wise. Never use rodenticides! The intended victim suffers a slow and painful death, and there is also a good chance that in this weakened state it will be eaten by a predator, such as a fox or an owl, who will suffer the same fate. It is common, as well, for these lethal mixtures to be mistaken as tasty treats by birds and other mammals (including your pets), who you had no intention of harming. We also ask that you never use glue traps. These are barbaric, to say the least.

Submitted by Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Visit aspenvalley.ca to learn more and discover the many ways to help wildlife in Muskoka.

The post Aspen Valley’s Tips On How To “Wildlife Proof” Your Property appeared first on Muskoka411.

These are the lucky ones.

Two of the seven cubs were brought to the sanctuary after their mom was illegally shot near Haliburton. “They were spotted nursing from their deceased mom when we got the call,” said Jan Kingshott, director of animal welfare at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. The other cubs – all five of them – had to scramble after their moms were hit by vehicles and killed in three separate instances.

“The work that we do here at the sanctuary is not for the faint of heart,” said Linda Glimps, executive director of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. “It’s a roller coaster of emotions and heart-wrenching, to say the least.”

Upon arrival at the Sanctuary, each cub was triaged, provided with first aid, and a plan of care was put into play. “X-rays of one of the cubs revealed two breaks in his left front leg and our volunteer drivers took him to the National Wildlife Centre for emergency surgery,” said Kingshott. “He has since returned and will be closely monitored through his recovery.”

All cubs are roughly eight months of age and, for the most part, started their journey at the sanctuary in an indoor enclosure where they were monitored and received species-specific formula, in addition to solid foods. Later they were moved to a natural woodland outdoor enclosure in a very remote area on the sanctuary’s 460-acre property. As they continue to grow, they will all be moved to an even larger enclosure with various “denning” options in which to hibernate over the cold winter months.

“While they could choose to hibernate on their own, we anticipate that they’ll curl up together in one or two denning sites before making a reappearance in the spring,” said Kingshott.

Bear cubs, who are generally born in January, remain at the sanctuary for an entire year before being released back into the wild the following summer. This is in keeping with the length of time they would remain in the wild with their moms giving them sufficient opportunity to grow strong and learn some of life’s lessons – hibernating and tree climbing for instance. Other animals including raccoons, skunks, deer fawn, coyote and fox – to name a few – have been winding down their stay at the sanctuary and are being released this fall.

Not surprisingly, first aid, food, vaccinations and size-appropriate enclosures (indoor and outdoor) are all requirements for successful rehabilitation and cost a great deal of money. “The larger the mammal the more expensive the care,” said Alison Withey, director of advancement and communications for Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. “If you’re a pet owner, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Last month, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary reached out to the community for help with respect to five injured and orphaned moose calves in their care. They had set a goal of raising $50,000 towards their wildlife program by the end of this year. “While our goal remains the same, the addition of seven cubs does raise the urgency of our push for funds,” added Withey. “If you are able to donate, now is the time.”

As a not-for-profit, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is solely dependent on the generosity of its donors.  Please visit aspenvalley.ca to discover the many ways to give (including your volunteer time) and learn how to “keep wildlife wild”. They accept the donation of securities and bequests and love it when friends of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary initiate fundraisers of their own.

The post Seven Orphaned Bear Cubs Brought To Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary appeared first on Muskoka411.

Animal intakes at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary are on the rise, and we are inviting members of the community to learn more about the Sanctuary and how to help the animals in our care.

We are dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. Once rehabilitated, these animals are released back into the wild for a second chance. Most of these animals have come to us through no fault of their own. They may have been hit by a vehicle, separated from their mom, or even evicted as a “nuisance.” All are doing their best to co-exist with humankind.

In 2021, over 1,100 animals (crossing 103 different species) were admitted to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. This was our highest intake in our 50-year history, and we are not surprised to see an uptick year after year.

While every season is different, and we never know how many of each species will come our way, this year has brought five orphaned moose calves to our doorstep. Two of these calves are victims of a vehicle collision. All have lost their morn.

Upon arrival at the Sanctuary, the calves were triaged, provided with first aid, and a plan of care was put into play for each of them. Mayve, one of the five moose calves, was expelled from her mom who (pregnant with Mayve at the time) was hit by a vehicle crossing the road. Her mom died instantly leaving Mayve in need of urgent care. Maverick (to the right of Mayve in the attached picture) was hit by a transport truck and injured. The other three were found alone with no mom in sight.

The good news is that they are all doing well and will remain in our care for an entire year before being released. This is the length of time they would have remained with their mom in the wild before stepping out on their own.

Sadly, the moose is in serious decline in Ontario. Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is attuned to this fact and knows that every moose truly matters. Our Sanctuary is licensed to rehabilitate moose and we are the only Sanctuary actively rehabbing moose in Ontario. Our work is around the clock as we care for these calves in addition to hundreds of other animals, including bear cubs, otters, deer fawns, fox and more. Each animal requiring an individualized plan of care specific to its situation and species.

Not surprisingly, first aid, species-specific formula/food, vaccinations, and size-appropriate enclosures (indoor and outdoor) are all requirements for successful rehabilitation and cost a great deal of money. Case in point, the five moose calves in our care are anticipated to consume over 930 litres of milk, 900 cups of moose breeder pellets and 405 bushels of fresh browse (twigs / tree buds) in as little as three months. Factor in hundreds of other hungry babies that require sustenance and accommodation, and the picture paints itself.

We need your help.

Our goal is to raise $50,000 towards our wildlife rehabilitation program this year.

As a not-for-profit registered charity, we are solely dependent on the generosity and support of individuals such as yourself. Please consider a donation of $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more. Every dollar counts and only you can determine what you are able to contribute at this time.

Donations can be made online at www.aspenvalley.ca Alternatively, you can write a cheque payable to “Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary” and mail it to:

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Attn: Year of the Moose
1116 Crawford Street
Rosseau, ON
P0C 1J0

I am happy to answer any questions you may have, and thank you very much for your support. Together, let’s keep wildlife wild.

Regards,

Alison Withey
Director, Advancement and Communications at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

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Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (AVWS) is asking drivers to slow down yet again. Wildlife is on the move, and people need to remind themselves that the risk of colliding with an animal is all too real.

“We get it. You’ve heard this message before, yet we’re hearing from an increasing number of people that have collided with an animal while driving,” said Jan Kingshott, Director of Animal Welfare at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. “The message isn’t sinking in the way it should, and we’re hoping it will. While some drivers have hit an animal through no fault of their own, others admit that they might have avoided the collision altogether had they been paying closer attention and driving the speed limit.”

In the span of a single week, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has admitted three orphaned moose calves in need of assistance. Two survived a vehicle collision. In one instance, the mom (cow) was killed, and in the other instance, the calf was hit by a vehicle. Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary was contacted and the calves were admitted to their Sanctuary in Rosseau where they were immediately assessed, and an individualized plan of care specific to their situation put into play.

Located on 460 acres of natural habitat in beautiful Muskoka, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few centres that is able to shelter and care for moose on a long-term basis. Interestingly, these calves will spend an entire year at the sanctuary where they will overwinter, and then be released next spring. Some species such as beavers are in the sanctuary’s care for two years before being released.

The spring and summer months are Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary’s busiest times of year. In 2021, over 1,100 animals were admitted to Aspen Valley and they anticipate taking in even larger numbers of animals in 2022.

“We receive hundreds of calls from many kind people who are asking for advice about wild animals that appear to be in trouble,” said Linda Glimps, Executive Director, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. “Often, we advise callers to first observe and ensure that the animals actually require assistance. With some watchful waiting, many of our callers witness mothers returning to their young after foraging for food and have avoided becoming accidental ‘kidnappers.'”

If an animal is truly orphaned or injured, however, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary asks the rescuer to bring the animal to them as quickly as possible. For people with no means of transportation, or when dealing with larger species, such as injured or orphaned deer fawns or moose calves, volunteer drivers at Aspen Valley may be able to help.

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary receives animals that have been orphaned, hit by vehicles, trapped, starved, injured by predators, or suffer from mange (and other diseases/conditions). They also see animals that have been compromised by well-meaning individuals who tried to care for them on their own, or believed it was okay to feed wildlife – which, in fact, is an incredible disservice to wild animals.

Sadly, in spite of their best efforts, there are occasions when recovery is not possible. “It is paramount to all of us here at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary that wildlife does not suffer needlessly, and we treat each animal with the dignity and respect it rightfully deserves,” Glimps said.

Not surprisingly, first aid, species-specific formula and/or food, vaccinations, and size-appropriate enclosures (indoor and outdoor) are all requirements for successful rehabilitation and cost a great deal of money.

As a not-for-profit, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is solely dependent on the generosity of its donors.  Visit the sanctuary’s website to discover the many ways to give (including your volunteer time) and learn how to “keep wildlife wild.”  They accept the donation of securities and bequests, and love it when friends of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary initiate fundraisers of their own. You can also shop their Amazon Wish List.

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Turtle season spans from April to October each year with most nesting activity occurring in May and June. The eight species of turtles native to Ontario are all designated as species at risk on a provincial and federal level. Turtles are considered a key indicator of an ecosystem’s health and many people don’t know just how valuable they are, said Sue Carstairs, executive and medical director of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) in Peterborough.

“They live in wetlands and wetlands are the filtration system, the kidneys, of our water source, so they’re really valuable to protecting those ecosystems that are meant to be the most biodiverse on the planet,” Carstairs said. 

The OTCC is home to the province’s turtle hospital and a program to incubate and hatch eggs along with providing education and doing field work across Ontario. Earlier this month, the centre announced the launch of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Network, created in partnership with Parks Canada. 

The network is a resource for the public as well as researchers and conservation groups. It shows the various conservation projects and programs across the province and provides contact information to help interested parties get involved. Carstairs said they’ve received some great feedback on the network already, but that’s not the only exciting development at OTCC. 

In hopes of having their property protected and used for conservation purposes, donors Mary and Gerry Young have offered OTCC the use of their property, which is near the current facility. The centre has renovated two existing buildings on the property and they’re raising $3 million to build a 10,000-square-foot facility to house the new hospital, which will include an intensive care unit, a hatchling area and an education centre.

“We’re proceeding with the site plan approval and hoping to break ground later on this summer, so it’s going really well,” Carstairs said. “We’re about three quarters of the way there in what we had hoped to raise.”

The OTCC’s facility is currently in a commercial mall, so while they do a lot with a little, the new facilities will allow all of their services to expand. The hospital at the centre is a teaching hospital, but they can only take one veterinary student at a time right now due to space constraints. 

Along with allowing for more students, the expansion will provide bigger areas for admission, lab and surgery. There were over 1,500 turtles admitted to the hospital last year. They also released 2,250 turtles, raised 2,065 hatchlings and took in 4,991 eggs. Things can get crowded at their current location since they never turn away turtles, so the new building will be better for turtles, staff and volunteers alike. 

The OTCC is registered charity and relies on donations to operate, so everything counts, Carstairs said. Whether it’s making a financial contribution, donating from their wishlist or even helping a turtle cross the road, it all makes a difference. For people wanting to get more involved, volunteers can sign up as turtle taxis and help transport injured turtles to the centre.

“There’s so many ways to get involved on any level that you like,” she said “All combined, it’s really powerful, but it doesn’t have to be onerous for any one person.”

With the long weekend on the way, it’s especially important to watch for turtles on roads and shoulders. They may look like rocks or potholes, so drivers should be aware, slow down and avoid them if at all possible. If it’s safe to do so, drivers can also pull off onto the shoulder, making sure to watch for nesting sites, and help turtles continue in the direction they’re already headed. 

Anyone in Ontario can call the OTCC at 705-741-5000 to report an injured turtle and their team will help get the turtle care through their first responder system and their taxi system. Turtles face a range of risks in addition to road mortality, including habitat loss, poaching and more. That along with the fact that they’re slow to reproduce means conservation efforts are essential in maintaining their populations.

“Some of these snapping turtles, they could be 50, 75, even 100 or more years old,” Carstairs said. “They’re just impossible to replace in the population when they’re lost, so every one that we save is important.”

Kelly Wallace, managing director and founder of the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative, said Ontario is lucky to have the turtle hospital, so it’s amazing to see it expand. Having a hospital that treats and releases adult turtles gives them the best chance of species recovery. 

“There’s just a huge list of factors that they face and the thing is, they are very slow to reproduce,” Wallace said. “Species like snapping turtles and Blandings turtle could take upwards of 17 to 20 years for them to reach sexual maturity, which means it’s very difficult for them to repopulate.”

Wallace said they’ve already received many calls about turtles in peril, stuck in fences or other structures while also facing the effects of land and shoreline development. The turtle hospital has already admitted over 200 turtles, and with a slow April, that number has Wallace and other conservationists concerned. 

Turtle activity is about two and a half weeks behind this year, she said, so May has seen more turtles on the roads and June will likely be busy for nesting activity. It’s crucial for Ontarians to be mindful of turtles and ensure that any injured turtles get the help they need.

“Turtles have a really unique metabolism, and their ability to recover is actually very good,” Wallace said. “Even a turtle that someone sees that the shells broken and they’re bleeding and they think the turtle is a goner, it’s very, very possible that turtle can be treated and if it gets to the turtle hospital, that just increases the chances of survival.”

Even if the turtle is dead, the OTCC may be able to save its eggs if it’s a female. Any eggs that are salvaged are incubated and raised at the centre before being released at the site where the mother was first located. 

Ontario residents may not be able to help injured porcupines or racoons, Wallace said, but turtles present a unique opportunity for wildlife rescue because of their size and demeanour. Becoming educated on ways to save turtles and their habitat is one of the greatest ways a person can help, so she encourages locals to reach out to conservation groups and ask questions.

“When it comes to wildlife in Ontario, we as concerned citizens have the opportunity to be very instrumental in helping the turtle species survive,” Wallace said. “The hospitals in place, they know what they’re doing, and it’s our responsibility, and we should take it on gladly, to get turtles that we see to the turtle hospital.”

If you need tips on turtles, call the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative at 647-606-9537. To report an injured turtle, call the OTCC 705-741-5000. Visit the Think Turtle blog for tips on helping turtles in spring and summer, and watch the video below to learn more about the OTCC’s expansion.

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