Watch out for turtles on Quebec roads until fall

Watch out for turtles on Quebec roads until fall

With the return of warmer weather, Quebec’s turtles are resuming their seasonal migrations, a period that leaves them more vulnerable to road collisions. From May to October, these reptiles frequently cross roads to feed, reproduce, or find a suitable nesting site, a situation that concerns Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).

The organization notes that the eight species of freshwater turtles found in Quebec are considered vulnerable or at risk. The loss of a single adult can have significant consequences for the survival of a population, since turtles reproduce slowly and few hatchlings reach adulthood.

Females during the nesting season, especially in June, as well as hatchlings in late summer, are among the most at-risk individuals. Ditches and sandy road shoulders are particularly attractive to turtles, prompting CNC to urge drivers to exercise extra caution in these areas.

Since 2017, the Carapace initiative has allowed citizens to report turtles spotted on roads via the carapace.ca website. The data collected is used, in particular, to identify high-risk areas and implement protective measures such as traffic signs or wildlife crossings. More than 12,000 reports have already been compiled.

“Every turtle saved is a victory for Quebec’s biodiversity,” says Francisco Retamal Diaz, project manager at Nature Conservancy of Canada. According to Carapace data, approximately 80 turtles die each year in Quebec after being struck by a vehicle.