Turtles, turtles rah, rah, rah, turtles, turtles yah, yah, yah.
A group is forming in the Municipality of Grey Highlands to protect the community’s turtle population.
Dave Meslin of the Grey Highlands Municipal League was a delegation at council’s meeting on March 20 and he asked for the municipality’s support to develop a local plan to protect and enhance the local turtle population.
“I love turtles, everyone loves turtles,” said Meslin, who said Grey Highlands has a large turtle population with its many wetlands. The municipality also has lots of roads and turtle predators.
He said turtles face the dual risk of mothers crossing local roads to lay their eggs and then their eggs being eaten by predators.
Meslin said there are groups in Ontario that offer turtle protection programs that could be taught to local residents. He asked for council to support the formation of a group to work with municipal staff to identify turtle hotspots and look at installing signage to warn drivers that turtles are present.
The group could also examine ways to protect turtle eggs by installing nest cages.
“We would be prepared to fundraise for costs and installation,” Meslin said. “We have a lot of expertise and a lot of passion in the municipality.”
Members of council were supportive of the initiative and unanimously passed a resolution requesting a staff report on the feasibility of the project.
“I think this is a really wonderful and important initiative. We are a municipality of waterways and wetlands. I hope we’re able to work closely together,” said Coun. Joel Loughead.
Mayor Paul McQueen also suggested the group reach out to the local conservation authorities, who could be of assistance to identify high turtle population areas of the municipality.
