TurtleGuardians

Turtles may be quiet, but they have plenty to say.

They communicate through sounds, including hisses, clicks, chirps and grunts, as well as scent, touch, movement and body language. Some even begin communicating before they hatch.

And yes, turtles get angry. They may hiss, chase, shove, snap or bite when another turtle - or human- has pushed the limits.

Quiet, ancient and full of personality. Turtles are expressive!
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There’s hope - despite the losses we continue to work to save every possible turtle- and in turn save ourselves. Soon Turtle Guardians will open a dedicated incubation centre and nursery to head-start turtles and give them an even better chance at survival- with the hope that our children will have the benefits of living in a world with wildlife.

Why we measure turtles?!!!
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Not all turtles are the same. Every measurement tells part of their story.

When our team measures a turtle’s shell length, width, height, and weight, we’re doing much more than recording numbers. These measurements help us understand:

🐢 Growth: Shell measurements allow us to track how turtles grow over time.

🐢 Health: Comparing weight to shell size helps us assess a turtle’s overall condition and identify signs of environmental stress.

🐢 Age Classes: Shell measurements help us distinguish juveniles, subadults, and adults. This allows us to more accurately understand the age structure of a population.

🐢 Population Health: Turtles depend on the long term survival of adults to keep populations stable. By measuring the proportion of adults compared with younger turtles entering the population, we can assess recruitment and determine whether enough young turtles are surviving to replace adults over time. This information also helps us evaluate whether conservation measures, such as road mitigation, and our incubation program are making a difference.

Every turtle we measure is another piece of the puzzle, helping us better understand and protect these remarkable animals.💚🐢

Here they come! is one of Canada’s largest incubation centres- and we are expanding with partners across eastern USA too! Stay tuned as we grow…
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🐢 Did you know? Many female turtles show nest site fidelity, meaning they often return to the same general nesting area year after year.

They don’t always lay their eggs in the exact same spot, but they frequently nest within the same stretch of habitat if it has been successful in the past. This behaviour can unfortunately lead them back across busy roads or into developed areas, putting them at risk.

Protecting nesting habitat and creating safe travel routes helps conserve not just today’s turtles, but generations of turtles that may continue using these important nesting areas for decades.