Download Oshawa Water Supply Plant Has New Neighbours

News Release
100 Whiting Avenue, Oshawa, ON, L1H 3T3
(905) 579-0411, fax (905) 579-0994
Release Date: Immediate
Oshawa Water Supply Plant Has New Neighbours!
The Oshawa Water Supply Plant is pleased to announce that thirteen female turtles, 12 snapping
and 1 Midland painted turtle, have selected the supply plant’s construction site as their new nesting
area.
Located next to the Provincially Significant Pumphouse Marsh, the
construction site provided ideal nesting conditions with fresh
gravel and soil that the turtles could not resist. Regional staff and
consultants of RH Construction Inspection Services noticed the
turtles actively digging their nests and laying their eggs then
contacted Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOCA) for
assistance. CLOCA staff worked with the Region and RH
Construction to place nesting protection structures on the nests to
protect the eggs from predators until they hatch.
A snapping turtle is getting
Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOCA) has been actively
ready to lay eggs at the
monitoring and assessing turtle nesting activity throughout their
Oshawa
Water Supply Plant.
jurisdiction since 2007 with support from Shell Environmental
Foundation, Turtle S.H.E.L.L Tortue, partner municipalities, high
school students, community volunteers and the Region of Durham. They have hosted information
workshops, constructed and installed nesting protection structures, installed basking logs in
wetlands, erected road signage, constructed nesting habitat and mapped nesting activity. “The
collective awareness about turtles in our community has increased over the years”, says Warren
Coulter, Environmental Engineering Analyst for CLOCA. “We really appreciate the Region of
Durham and RH Construction staff for being environmentally responsible and taking action to help
protect their new turtle neighbours.”
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During the month of June female turtles, typically snapping
and Midland painted turtles, leave the Marsh in pursuit of a
suitable nesting location. They look for well drained sand
or gravel soil, and often find construction sites and
roadside shoulders suitable to lay their eggs. Many people
are surprised to see a turtle digging a hole and laying her
eggs in these disturbed sites. “We know they visit the
same nesting sites each year, regardless of traffic and
construction activity and once her egg laying is done, she
leaves the nest unattended,” says Coulter. If the eggs are
not eaten by hungry raccoons, skunks and other wildlife
shortly after the female lays them, they will hatch into
miniature versions of their parents in about 16 weeks.
Many scientists believe that increased predation of the
nests, is contributing to a population decline. Of Ontario’s 8
native turtle species, 7 of them are considered Species at
Risk. So adding the protection structures, a simple 2 foot
square made of 2 by 4’s and sturdy hardware cloth, can
make the world of difference to local turtle populations.
A nesting structure protects the
turtle eggs from predators such as
raccoons and skunks.
If you see turtles nesting or crossing the road on your travels, please slow down and give
them lots of room. Visit us online at www.cloca.com where you can fill out our Turtle Nesting
Survey and find out more about turtle conservation.
Media Contact:
Gord Geissberger, Marketing & Communication Coordinator
(905) 579-0411, ext. 142, Email: [email protected]
What we do on the land is mirrored in the water.