New project aims to lower turtle road mortality in Outaouais

Taylor Clark

The Conseil Régional de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable de l’Outaouais is attempting to reduce the number of crushed turtles on the roads of Outaouais with a new project. With the help of volunteers, the organization planned to track incidents of turtle mortality on roadways and use the data to assess what measures can reduce collisions. 

Project manager in sustainable management of natural environments Cénédra Poulin said snapping turtles and painted turtles are commonly found in Outaouais. The region was also home to rarer species like the Blanding’s turtle and wood turtle.

Poulin said roadways become a hotspot for some turtles as they tend to nest and lay eggs in the sand and gravel along roadsides. In other cases, roads divide habitats and wetlands leaving turtles no other choice but to cross to venture from one habitat to another.

But the organization is aiming to improve the future of the species in Outaouais by engaging volunteers with good knowledge of turtles or past handling experience to participate in a turtle inventory in areas of high risk of road mortality. Volunteers will be asked to monitor selected road sections a few times a week from mid-May to mid-July and track data.

“But anyone can get involved in the project,” said Poulin. “No matter where people are, if they see a turtle on the side of the road, they can fill out a form on the Carapace platform and all this data will be used by biologists to assess the risks of road mortality throughout the Outaouais region.”

Along with its reporting function, Carapace also provides a step-by-step guide on how to safely help and handle turtles on roadsides. For tutorials and more information about which turtles have nestled in Outaouais, visit carapace.ca.

Photo caption: Residents within Outaouais can participate in the Conseil Régional de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable de l’Outaouais’ turtle inventory by tracking turtles along roadways.

Photo credit: Conseil Régional de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable de l’Outaouais Facebook