Oak Ridges Turtles

01/04/2026

The turtle tally for 2025 is in! We released 271 hatchlings from this past season, an increase from last year (183) 🐢🐢🐢!

Thank you to everyone who helped monitor, release, and report throughout the season. It takes a community 💚

We're always looking for volunteers so if you or anyone you know is interested in helping turtles either through field work or social media assistance for the 2025 season, please feel free to send a message here on facebook or email [email protected]

10/17/2025

If anyone has a spare 30” working kitchen fridge they’re willing to donate to Scales Nature Park, they can pick it up within Central Ontario 🙏🏼💚

10/13/2025

This Halloween season, please consider wildlife when setting up decorations as they can become hazardous for other species.
Certain decorations can impact wildlife through entanglement or ingestion.

Things to avoid:
-fake spiderwebs
-loose string, netting, or hoops
-certain lights (bright, flashing or coloured lights can disorient wildlife). Lights should be turned off before 10 pm to prevent wildlife disorientation. Warmer lights or red lights can be used instead, or a timer can be set.
-edible-looking/artificial food (animals can get sick from consuming painted or treated versions, e.g. plastic corn stalks)
-toxic materials (e.g. painted/bleached pumpkins)

Hopefully, everyone is having a lovely Fall so far! 🍂

10/02/2025

Yesterday we lost an incredible human being.

Jane Goodall was a primatologist and an anthropologist who advocated for conservation and animal welfare. She contributed immensely to the environmental realm and was someone society as a whole should emulate.

I had the pleasure of seeing her in person some years ago at the University of Toronto and she brought so much hope, resilience, empathy, compassion, and courage.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make” - Jane Goodall

Our choices and actions all matter and have an impact. As we remember Jane, let us choose to move forward by using each day to make this world a better place for both people and other species.

Rest in peace, never forgotten
April 3, 1934 - October 1, 2025

09/30/2025

Listening, remembering, and reflecting 🧡

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, let's listen, remember, and reflect on the stories and experiences of the children who were ripped away from their homes and families, those who never came home, and the families that endured loss, pain, and grief.

What we now call Oak Ridges and Richmond Hill sit on Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations of the Williams Treaty. We are also on part of the Huron Wendat and Haudenosaunee traditional territories. Oak Ridges and the Richmond Hill area was inhabited since the last Ice Age, with archeological evidence of Iroquoian settlements such as the one around Lake Wilcox.

We also want to acknowledge all First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people across North America (Turtle Island). May we continue to focus on growing and rebuilding together 🧡

Our hearts in solidarity. Today, and every day, we honour the children who never came home, Survivors, and all who carry the weight of truth. Reconciliation is not a moment- it is a shared journey hand in hand. The Land Between and Turtle Guardians send prayers for hope and healing to our friends on this day especially. We strive to support restoration as allies. We honour the treaties as Indigenous co-led organizations, and as we work to care for and restore North America- Turtle Island.

09/24/2025

Some of the hatchlings from this season 🐢💚

We haven’t done a full tally yet of how many were released this season (we’re still waiting on some nests to hatch) but should have an updated count sometime next month.

If you spot hatchlings around Oak Ridges, you can let us know by messaging our group here on Facebook, emailing [email protected], or texting 416-704–6622. We can help to monitor if needed and will record the nesting location for next year 📍All data is collected and submitted to our umbrella organization, Turtle Guardians (part of The Land Between)

Thank you to everyone who has helped us keep an eye out and contacted us with sightings/helped with releases 🙏🏼

09/19/2025

It’s that time of the season again where turtles are starting to move to their annual hibernation spots and will be more active on roads as they move between wetlands.

Please be mindful when driving. If you spot a turtle on the road, please slow down, pull over where it’s safe, and help it to cross the road in the direction that it’s heading.

During the winter, turtles brumate (form of hibernation). Brumation is specific to cold-blooded animals (ectotherms) like reptiles and amphibians. Turtles will burry at the bottom of lakes and ponds, or deep under mud and their heart rate and metabolism will drop significantly. During this time, turtles absorb oxygen from the water through a special tissue in their throats and around the tail/butt (cloaca).

If you spot an injured turtle, please don’t leave them to suffer. You can contact the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre at 705-741-5000 for assistance. You can also text 416-704-6622 to let us know about the sighting as we collect local data around Oak Ridges and Richmond Hill.

Thank you to all of the wonderful community members who have helped our shelled friends this season 🐢💚

09/10/2025

How do hatchlings break free from their eggshells? Egg tooth/caruncle!

09/10/2025

Last weekend was rough. We had 21 hatchlings hit on the road from an unexpected nest. These areas are checked daily but sometimes timing is everything.

Please drive with care! Pay attention to your surroundings and don’t speed. Yes, they can be hard to spot on the road as they look like small pebbles, but when you have this many on the road moving at once, it’s really heartbreaking that all lost their lives.

They were respectfully laid to rest by their home wetland 🐢💚

09/06/2025

I get so angry when I see posts about how mean snapping turtles are. NO, they aren't. They are frightened because someone is bothering them, or they are injured and lash out, but they are not mean. In fact, if you approach they would prefer to run into the water rather than approach you, just like any other turtle! If you poke them of course they are going to defend themselves, wouldn't you? For over 25 years I have had the pleasure of working with these beautiful turtles, large and small. I still have all my fingers and toes. The worst injury I incurred was a scratch on one of my fingers from one of their nails while they were trying to get away as I was picking one up. Let everyone know, they are really gentle turtles just defending themselves, not looking to harm anyone.

09/03/2025

Jeremiah 💕
Please consider helping Jeremiah with a donation if you're able to 🐢

08/30/2025

As wonderful and beautiful as it is to see new hatchlings emerging and releasing them into their wetland homes, caring for our local turtles also comes with a lot of heartbreak ❤️‍🩹

Please stay alert while driving around 🐢. If you spot something that looks like a small, moving pebble, please slow down and pull over to help if it’s safe to do so.

These babies were picked up off the road from a roadside nest. There were 13 fatally hit in total at one spot (on a residential street).