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It's turtle season, so watch out for turtle nests at risk

Anyone who spots a turtle nest at risk is asked to call the rare Charitable Research Reserve
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A turtle digs up a hole and buries its eggs on the soccer field at York Road Park last June. Anam Khan/GuelphToday file photo

They’re slow and steady and they’ve begun nesting in Guelph.

Turtle season is upon us which means turtles are out nesting, sometimes in risky areas such as highways, roads and construction sites, soccer fields, roadsides, bike trails and parking lots.

The City of Guelph partners with rare Charitable Research Reserve's Turtle Project every year which rescues turtle eggs across Wellington County and the Waterloo Region.

Anyone who spots turtle eggs at risk in the area is asked to contact rare’s hotline at 226-962-6885.

Last year, the charity organization collected 2,002 eggs from 74 nests. Five-hundred of those eggs were from Guelph. Hatchlings were safely returned around the area they were found after spending between 60 to 60 days in incubators at rare’s Cambridge facility.

Not all turtle eggs are collected. The charity places cages around some nests in non risky areas to protect the turtles from predators. Hatchlings can later make it out of the cages into the wild with no issues.


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Anam Khan

About the Author: Anam Khan

Anam Khan is a journalist who covers numerous beats in Guelph and Wellington County that include politics, crime, features, environment and social justice
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