Turtles at Risk in the Upper Thames River Watershed

Turtles have lived in the Thames River watershed for thousands of years, but their populations are now declining at an alarming rate. All six native turtle species found in the Upper Thames River watershed are now listed as at risk in Canada, and five of them are also at risk in Ontario. Learn about these species, the threats they face, and how you can help protect them.

Meet the Turtles of the Upper Thames River Watershed

Ontario is home to eight native turtle species, and sadly, all of them are at risk at the federal level. Six of these species live in the Upper Thames River watershed. Hover your mouse over each species below to learn more about them.

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Scientific Name: Apalone spinifera
Status: Endangered (Federal), Endangered (Provincial)

Spotted Turtle

Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata听
Status: Endangered (Federal), Endangered (Provincial)

Blanding's Turtle

Scientific Name: Emydoidea blandingii听
Status: Endangered (Federal), Threatened (Provincial)

Northern Map Turtle

Scientific Name: Graptemys geographica听
Status: Special Concern (Federal), Special Concern (Provincial)

Midland Painted Turtle

Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta marginata听
Status: Special Concern (Federal), Not Listed (Provincial)

Snapping Turtle

Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina听
Status: Special Concern (Federal), Special Concern (Provincial)

Photos by Scott Gillingwater

Why are Turtle Populations Declining?

Turtles grow very slowly and do not begin laying eggs until they are 8 to 20 years old. This makes every adult turtle incredibly important for sustaining and growing their population. When an adult turtle is killed, it can take decades before another turtle grows old enough to take its place and produce more eggs. Unfortunately, turtles in Southern Ontario face many threats that are putting these already vulnerable populations at risk.听

  • Healthy wetlands and upland habitats are essential for turtles to feed, bask, mate, nest, and overwinter. Unfortunately, much of this habitat has been drained, filled in, or altered.听
  • Wetlands are being lost to urban development, expanding agricultural areas, and changing land use.听
  • Roads and highways cut through turtle habitat, reducing the quality and availability of wetlands and nesting areas. Roads can also isolate turtles, making it harder for them to find food or mates.听
  • Dams and dykes change water levels and flood patterns, making some areas unsuitable for turtles.听
  • Shoreline erosion control methods, such as rip rap and gabion baskets, can destroy the sandy or soft bank nesting sites which turtles need to lay eggs.听

  • Roads are one of the biggest threats to local turtles.听
  • Many adult females are killed by cars each spring and summer when they leave wetlands to find nesting sites. Losing mature females is devastating for populations because turtles take 8 to 20 years to reach maturity and begin laying eggs.听
  • Road mortality can also skew the sex ratio of populations (fewer females) and reduce genetic diversity because turtles become isolated from one another.听

  • Pollution from urban and agricultural sources impacts water quality and turtle health.听
  • Runoff from roads, farms, and cities introduces excess phosphorus, which fuels algae growth. This can lead to harmful blue-green algae blooms and low oxygen levels in the water, killing fish and degrading turtle habitat.听
  • Other pollutants like heavy metals, petroleum products, animal waste, and sediment runoff further harm wetlands and waterways.听
  • Thermal pollution (warm water from storm drains or industrial outflows) can alter water temperatures, stressing turtles and other aquatic life.听

  • Eggs and young turtles face extremely high predation rates in Southern Ontario.听
  • Human activity has increased populations of “subsidized predators” like raccoons, skunks, foxes, and crows, which thrive on garbage and other human-provided food sources.听
  • These predators eat most turtle nests and many hatchlings each year, meaning very few young survive their first year.听
  • In some cases, even adult turtles are preyed upon by raccoons, coyotes, and other animals.听

  • Turtles are caught illegally for food, medicine, or the pet trade.听
  • Wild turtles are sometimes sold as pets, even though they do not adapt well to captivity and often die.听
  • Turtles are also sought after for their meat and use in traditional medicines.听
  • Some turtles are taken accidentally as bycatch, but others are taken deliberately in organized poaching operations. Because turtles reproduce so slowly, even a small amount of poaching can devastate populations.听

  • Turtles are vulnerable to injuries from recreational activities.听
  • Boat propellers and hulls can strike turtles basking near the surface, causing fatal injuries.听
  • Fishing hooks can become embedded in turtles鈥� mouths or throats, and fishing lines can wrap around their bodies, often causing drowning or slow death.听

  • More frequent droughts can dry up wetlands, reducing available habitat and food.听
  • Extreme heat can affect the survival of turtle eggs and can even change the sex ratio of hatchlings because in some species, incubation temperature determines the sex of baby turtles.听
  • Intense rainfall and flooding can wash away nests and erode nesting sites.听

  • Invasive plants and animals degrade turtle habitats and reduce food availability.听
  • Non-native plant species can take over wetlands, making them less suitable for turtles.听
  • Invasive animals can compete with turtles for food and space or prey on them directly.听

Conservation efforts to protect turtles and their habitats require funding for research, habitat restoration, monitoring, and outreach. Unfortunately, resources are often limited, slowing the progress of recovery programs.听

What You Can Do (or Not Do!)

 

 

 

Do: Don’t:
  • Brake for turtles and snakes crossing the road when it is safe. 
  • Help turtles cross the road in the direction they were heading, as long as habitat is available (i.e., not into parking lots or other unsafe areas, or over barriers where they cannot return to their wetland habitat – even if that was the direction they were heading).
  • Report sick or injured turtles to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre at 705-741-5000. Report turtle nests, unharmed turtles, and dead turtles using the UTRCA Turtle Reporting Form. 
  • Conserve wetlands and natural areas whenever possible. 
  • Be watchful in areas with 鈥渢urtle crossing鈥� signs. 
  • Observe turtles from a distance 鈥� enjoy watching them, but don鈥檛 disturb them. 
  • Use community science apps such as to document wildlife. 
  • Donate to and volunteer with turtle conservation programs like .
  • Take turtles from the wild or keep them as pets. It鈥檚 illegal and harmful. 
  • Buy native turtle species as pets. They often come from poachers. 
  • Hurt, harass, or kill turtles (or any wildlife). 
  • Share turtle nesting locations online 鈥� it puts them at risk. 
  • Disturb a nesting turtle or dig up turtle eggs. 
  • Release unwanted pet turtles into the wild 鈥� contact a pet rescue instead. 

Take the Next Step

Learning about turtles at risk is just the beginning. Find more ways to make a difference by visiting our How to Help Turtles page.

Group of people hold turtle hatchlings

Thank you to Nature London for their sponsorship.