Moncton initiative teaching people about at risk turtle species

MONCTON – A new initiative in the Moncton area is hoping to teach residents about an at-risk species of turtle living in their own backyard.

The wood turtle is native to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario, but their numbers are dwindling.

The Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance says the problem is that many people want to take them home.

“In the past people used to take them as pets because they’re a quite gorgeous species,” said Christine McLauchlan, executive director, of Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance.

She added that you need a permit to handle them because they’re a species-at-risk.

“So if you ever encounter one, just make sure that you leave it alone.”

She added that they don’t wander far from their nests, so if you move them that could cause a problem for their babies as well.

“The issue with wood turtles is they’re a very long-live species and they take a long time to sexually mature, so if you take an individual out of a population that can have a huge affect on the population,” she said. “We really need to make sure that every adult stays in the environment and is contributing to the population growth.”

The group has hidden 30 clay wood turtles around Moncton with notes explaining that real wood turtles should be left alone. But if you find a clay turtle, you can keep it.

They also want people to upload pictures with the clay turtles to social media. McLauchlan added that if any turtles aren’t found, they will eventually decompose.