What is a Turtle Nest Protector?
If you visit Toronto parks near waterways, you have likely seen small wooden boxes with wire mesh on top, and small notches in each side - these are turtle nest protectors! Underneath every nest protector is a turtle nest that is actively being monitored by our hardworking volunteers. When it hatches, we make sure that the baby turtles can be taken safely to water.
Why We Protect Turtle Nests
For many Indigenous Peoples, turtles have been here since the beginning of time. Western science says they have lived on this planet for 220 million years! So why are turtles living in Ontario at risk of disappearing? All 8 of Ontario's turtle relatives are designated as special concern, threatened or endangered!
This is because of:
Habitat destruction: humans have destroyed 85% of Toronto wetlands.
Road mortality: humans have built roads next to wetlands so turtles often cross roads to nest.
Other threats in parks: including irresponsible fishing, poaching, bikes and other vehicles, blue-green algae, high chloride levels, park visitors’ feet and off-leash dogs.
Turtle eggs and turtle hatchlings have always been food for other animals. Normally, about 80% of nests are predated (dug up by another animal). However, in an urban environment like Toronto we also have subsidized predators, animals like raccoons, skunks and coyotes whose populations are unnaturally enhanced by human-provided resources. Research has shown that 100% of all nests can be predated in such an environment - this is not natural!
Snapping Turtles lay an average of 40-60 eggs a year. However, out of 1600 eggs only one survives and grows to reproductive maturity. That means in a Snapping Turtle’s lifetime only 2 or 3 of her offspring will become mature breeders as well.
Our program gives eggs a better chance to become hatchlings. We only install wood and mesh nest protectors when we observe a nesting Mama lay and bury her eggs in that exact spot. That means every nest protector represents hours of dedicated conservation work.
We started with nest protectors that were gifted to us, and later built our own with help from our volunteers and our generous supporters.
Using Nest Protectors Responsibly
It is very important to carefully install an adequate nest protector - so that no harm comes to the eggs and hatchlings. Improper devices or installation methods can put the fragile eggs and vulnerable hatchlings under even more risk! Additionally, most of Ontario turtles are temperature dependent for sex determination. Because altering the temperature of incubation affects the sex of the turtles, it is very important not to interfere with the temperature of the nest - because this can have significant impacts on the population.
If you have seen a turtle nesting in your property, know that she will come back every year within a foot of the same spot to lay her eggs. This is called site fidelity. Private property owners can help support the turtle population by placing proper nest protectors.
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Center sells nest protectors. You can order online or by calling on the phone. If you are interested in building your own, the same page contains detailed instructions on how to build one and installing it.
The Turtles Kingston also sells nest protectors only for pickup from the designated address in the Strathcona Park neighbourhood of Kingston, Ontario.
