Rondeau's Turtles

Rondeau is home to many different turtle species, including: Spotted, Blanding's, Eastern Spiny Softshell, Snapping, Musk, Midland Painted, Red-Eared Slider, and Northern Map.

Of these 8 species, 7 of them are species at risk.

The turtle populations are threatened due to road mortality, habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal collection, predation and pollution.

However, because of your efforts to drive carefully, clean up litter, learn about our species, refrain from pet trade, and leave beach branches where they lie, our turtle populations are being saved.

In fact, since 2004 Wildlife Preservation Canada has saved over 10,885 turtle eggs in Rondeau Provincial Park.

Now for some facts about turtles:

Turtles can spend months underwater during hibernation without taking a single breath.

Turtles are ectothermic meaning that they require heat from their environment to stay warm.

Speaking of heat, the sex of a turtle's clutch is determined by temperature.

Remember the phrase, hot chicks and cool dudes, females will hatch from warm nests and males will hatch from cool nests.