Saturday 6 June 2015

Saturday Critters –Ontario turtles

A look back at some of my favourite turtles. I realized my old body preferred setting the camera down on the ground with the turtle, rather than hunkering down myself! This is the season to rescue turtles. If you can safely set them on the other side of the road, in the direction in which they are going, you can prevent a death.

TURTLES:
In Ontario we have 10 species of turtles, of those some are at risk: habitat loss, pesticides, road incidents, a slow maturity rate, poisons (mercury, PCBs), illegal hunting. 
  1. Blanding's (Emydoidea) blandingii)
  2. Eastern Box (Terrapene carolina) 
  3. Eastern Musk (Sternotherus odoratus) –THREATENED
  4. Eastern Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinigera) –THREATENED
    Toronto Zoo Poster
  5. Midland Painted (Chrysemys picta marginata)
  6. Northern Map (Graptemys geographica) –SPECIAL CONCERN
  7. Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) 
  8. Spotted (Clemmys guttata) – VULNERABLE
  9. Western Painted (Chrysemys picta bellii)
  10. Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insulpta) –SPECIAL CONCERN

This was the mother of all turtles, spotted July 20, 2009 Muskoka.

14 comments:

eileeninmd said...

What a nice collection of turtle images. Neat look at the snapper's bottom.. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

Linda aka Crafty Gardener said...

Neat to see all the different sizes of turtles. We had a huge snapping turtle on the road in front of the house last year ... no idea where it came from or where it was going as the water is a long way from our house.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

All the Turtles are lovely and I loved the short video

TexWisGirl said...

so cute!

Inspired By June said...

Wonderful turtle pictures, Jennifer! We actually saw a turtle crossing our road the other day. I guess he's been washed into our area with all the flood waters. We made sure he made it safely to the other side! Have a great week!

Debbie said...

i see those big ones around the yard, every so often. as a child, we always had pet turtles but i don't think you can do that anymore!!!!

Red said...

I'm surprised that you have that many species. I don't think we have any turtles.

A Colorful World said...

Love all the different turtles! That's one big snapper on the rocks! Great photos.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Yabber-daabbers, they are beauts!!! Adorable little bubba on your fingers... YAM xx

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

What a great collection! I like that little one in your hand.
~

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Great photos. Know exactly what you mean about getting down on the ground to shoot photos. Actually getting down there isn't the problem. Getting back up is!

Unknown said...

Great shots of the turtles. The tiny one is so cute.

William Kendall said...

Snappers are amazing animals- and faster than you think! Like little dinosaurs.

Powell River Books said...

All of my pet turtles have been named Butch. The last one was when I taught elementary school. He got so big he moved to my parent's yard with his own large pen and kiddy swimming pool. - Margy