Our local turtles are in trouble.
Four students in the Environmental Sciences program at Royal Roads University in Colwood are on the case, though, in an attempt to remedy that situation.
One of them, Will Kendon, received a diploma in environmental protection technology before joining the program to complete his bachelorB次元官网网址檚 degree. Since one aspect of the program is a year-long project in their field, he says, the group took on the mission of coming up with an environmental sustainability plan for the western painted turtle.
The reptiles are an endangered species. And with a significant population of them in and around the Langford lakes system, the group thought it was worth looking at how to sustain B次元官网网址� if not improve B次元官网网址� the situation in the region.
Group member Danielle Spence says they were originally asked to characterize the population; that is, count the males and females and determine their age. But thatB次元官网网址檚 a huge process, so instead the group is focusing on creating and enhancing basking and mating sites for the turtle.
B次元官网网址淚t was a bit premature to do the profiling of them, so we decided the first step was to really look at the ecology of the lakes, and see how theyB次元官网网址檙e doing in terms of being a good home for turtles to flourish,B次元官网网址� Kendon says. B次元官网网址淭hen weB次元官网网址檒l create a report for the City of Langford that has a bunch of background about the turtles B次元官网网址� things they might not know B次元官网网址� and pair our research with some recommendations.B次元官网网址�
Basically, theyB次元官网网址檙e hoping to help Langford city council make decisions based on relevant science.
B次元官网网址�(Shoreline) development is by far the biggest impact on turtles. Historically, this was all agricultural land,B次元官网网址� says group member Dan Beckmann, looking around Langford Lake from the dock at the boat launch.
B次元官网网址淭he lack of suitable nesting sites for them is the biggest thing,B次元官网网址� Spence says. If the goal is to save the turtles and expand the population, she says, they need places where they will breed.
Beckmann says the turtles will travel up to 200 metres from shore to find an ideal spot to nest, and if they canB次元官网网址檛 do that, they run into issues.
B次元官网网址淭he other thing about nesting sites is they want something thatB次元官网网址檚 south facing and sloped towards the sun,B次元官网网址� says group member Grace Brouwer. B次元官网网址淭he eggs actually hatch in the fall and the hatchlings stay in the nest through the winter, so they need to be warm enough to survive within the nest. A warm, sunny spot is ideal.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵eah, people and turtles want the same things,B次元官网网址� Kendon says, which is unfortunate for the turtles.
The majority of the lakefront is privately-owned property, he says, so there needs to be an increased level of communication with those property owners so they understand there are turtles in the lake, and the importance they play in the ecosystem.
So far the students have been encouraged by the reception and supported theyB次元官网网址檝e received from residents around the lakes.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e spoken to people who already have turtles nesting on their property and are asking what they can do to help that,B次元官网网址� Beckmann says. B次元官网网址淥thers have even offered to put out basking logs for the turtles on their property.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭urtles are a pretty beloved species, I guess. Everyone seems to care about them, at least a little bit,B次元官网网址� Kendon adds. B次元官网网址淚 get the feeling that everyone wants to do what they can, but thereB次元官网网址檚 only so much thatB次元官网网址檚 reasonable to ask of people.B次元官网网址�
While itB次元官网网址檚 great that people want to help, the students say, they also need to be educated so they can be sure theyB次元官网网址檙e helping properly.
B次元官网网址淚 would encourage people to get involved, as long as they have the right information,B次元官网网址� Kendon says. She notes that groups such as the Habitat Acquisition Trust are more than willing to talk with people and send out information if theyB次元官网网址檙e approached with questions.
The group will complete its field work and prepare a report for city council over the next few months, with a presentation expected in August.
B次元官网网址淲e should be able to give a pretty solid list of recommendations to the City of Langford based on our research,B次元官网网址� Kendon says.
Anyone who wants more information on the western painted turtle and details on how to help them can find it on the , or by checking in with the .
Family members at odds
Besides development, another factor impacting on the endangered western painted turtle is actually a member of its own family. ItB次元官网网址檚 the red-eared slider B次元官网网址� the kind of turtle you see in pet stores swimming around in tanks like little swimming toonies with legs and a head.
B次元官网网址淭hey live too long B次元官网网址� too long for most people who want to keep them,B次元官网网址� says Royal Roads University environmental science student Dan Beckmann, and they end up being released into the wild.
According to his research group investigating local western painted turtles, itB次元官网网址檚 not surprising that people would think, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l just let him go free to live with his friends.B次元官网网址� After all, the lake already has a bunch of turtles, so why not one more, right?
B次元官网网址淗umans are bad for that,B次元官网网址� says fellow group member Will Kendon. B次元官网网址淓verywhere we go, we bring stuff that shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be there. The red-eared slider is another example of that.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to say how much of an effect they have on the western painted turtles, Kendon says, B次元官网网址渂ut they occupy similar habitat areas, theyB次元官网网址檙e larger and theyB次元官网网址檙e definitely more aggressive.B次元官网网址�
But at this point, he says, the focus is on helping the western painted turtles, rather than get rid of their invasive counterpart. B次元官网网址淚f the western painted can establish itself well enough, than the red-eared slider probably canB次元官网网址檛 damage it that much.B次元官网网址�
