06/19/2026
Turtles… LOOK AT THEM 😍🐢
A huge thank you to the Phoenix Foundation of the Boundary Communities for funding the purchase of our new camera to support our turtle monitoring project!
This camera allows us to monitor turtles from a safe and respectful distance while still capturing the incredible details of these beautiful creatures.
One of these turtles is not like the other… can you tell the difference? 👀
The Christina Lake Stewardship Society, in partnership with the Boundary Invasive Species Society, is undertaking a turtle monitoring project focused on both our native western painted turtles and non-native red-eared sliders.
Western painted turtles are a species at risk in BC, and Christina Lake provides important habitat for this native turtle population. Through this project, we are monitoring turtle activity to better understand how red-eared sliders may be affecting our local western painted turtles, including whether they are competing for basking sites, nesting habitat, or food resources.
Red-eared sliders are commonly kept as pets and were most likely introduced to the wild through released or escaped pets. While they may seem harmless, releasing pets into the wild can have serious impacts on native wildlife and local ecosystems.
Please never release unwanted pets into lakes, ponds, wetlands, or natural areas. If you can no longer care for a pet turtle, contact a rescue, veterinarian, or local animal organization for help finding a safe and responsible option.
