News

The Coast Wildlife project is asking everyone to  help to celebrate World Turtle Day, May 23, by telling your friends and family about turtles and volunteering to monitor turtles on the coast. These wonderful creatures have been around on Earth for more than 200 million years, yet many species are now threatened or endangered. Approximately half of the 328 turtle species worldwide are considered threatened, a higher proportion than most other vertebrate groups.

Here are a few simple things that people can do to help turtles:

(1) Never buy turtles from pet stores as it increases demand from the wild

(2) Never pick up a wild turtle unless it is in danger or injured

(3) If a turtle is on the road, and ONLY if it is safe for you to do so, pick it up and move it to the other side of the road in the direction it was headed

(4) Do not release pet turtles into lakes; they may spread disease or compete with native turtles

(5) Report illegal removal or sales of wild turtles to the Wildlife Project (604-989-1007) or to the provincial RAPP line 1-877-952-7277 (cellular #7277)

(6) Join our Landowner Stewardship Program and learn how to maintain and enhance turtle habitat on your private property

Here on the Sunshine Coast, turtle hatchling emergence season is finishing up as many of the turtle babies have already left their underground nests and headed out to the lakes.  If you are careful and observant you may still be able to spot the tiny babies basking on shorelines, or on aquatic vegetation close to shore, or floating in shallow water.

June marks the beginning of turtle nesting season, when females leave the lakes to dig nests and lay eggs on land, normally quite close to water.

Please keep us informed of all of your turtle sightings.  If you have seen any baby turtles or emerged nests over the past few months, please report your sightings.  If you spot a turtle wandering or digging on land, please try to call us right away at 604-989-1007.  If you are not able to call, please take photos and try to mark the exact location of the nest by placing an object a meter or so away.  We are also interested in your sightings of turtle basking and turtles on roads.  Your sightings are extremely valuable to the project!

You can also report your turtle sightings on our website on this page...  http://www.coastwildlife.ca/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=form&fabrik=4&random=0&Itemid=96

We are looking for volunteers to help us monitor turtle nesting sites during the month of June.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us by email.  As you can see from the attached photo, taken a few weeks ago at Katherine Lake, community members of all ages can help to monitor turtles!