Summer is a deadly season for Ontario's at risk turtles

Ontario motorists are being urged to look out for turtles in an effort to curb the number of injuries and deaths among the animals, most of which are classified as at risk in the province.

Since spring, the Toronto Wildlife Centre has received two dozen injured turtles, half of which do not survive. 

Nathalie Karvonen, executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre, says many of those injuries are due to a confluence of events that happen at the start of summer.

"June is a very important month for turtles because they are so active, they're all pretty much out of hibernation," she said. "So many turtles — females, obviously — are crossing roads to get to areas to lay their eggs."

"Similarly in June, humans get really active," she added. "There's a lot more traffic up to cottage country, and in areas where there's turtles there's a lot more cars on the road moving quickly.

"Those two things put together means a lot more turtles are being hit by cars."

Shelters across the province receive a large number of injured turtles and this year is no different. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre in Peterborough has taken in over 200 turtles since the start of the year.   

Karvonen notes seven of the eight turtles species in the province are classified as species at risk, and that injuries caused by motorists are compounded by how difficult it is to treat turtles.

"Turtles can be quite difficult to care for because their metabolism is very, very slow," she said. "So as a medical case, problems can develop very slowly, so you really have to know what you're watching out for. 

"Also, their diets are very specific and if they're in pain, they won't eat, and if they don't eat, they don't heal."