Help Ontario’s biodiversity: request end of exploitation of Snapping Turtles. Since I am supposed to be writing about “What You Can Do” this is a perfect opportunity for each and every one of you to do something by standing up for Ontario’s biodiversity. In this case it has been made easy for you to act. Spend 5 minutes familiarizing yourself with the issue, another five minutes typing a brief note (or using one of the cut and pastes suggested) and five minutes sending it via the URL provided. The Turtles will thank you!
“Snapping Turtles face many threats including the loss of wetlands, traffic mortality, by-catch from commercial and recreational fishing, persecution, and toxic chemicals. If that were not enough, the province of Ontario also allows hunting of Snapping Turtles. Right now, the province is re-considering the hunt. Submissions requesting the hunt be ended are urgently needed.
Snapping Turtles in Ontario may take 20 years or more to reach maturity and any hunting and killing of the species must take into account such factors. Snapping Turtles have a suite of life history characteristics involving delayed maturity, high nest predation rates, but extended adult lifespan. This life history strategy is successful when adult mortality rates remain extremely low. Snapping Turtles already face significant threats in Ontario including traffic mortality, boating mortality, fishing by-catch, persecution, toxic contaminants, and habitat loss and fragmentation. Additional sources of mortality, such as from a legal hunt, are likely not sustainable in many areas of the province.
Snapping Turtles are listed as a species at risk both provincially and federally. They face numerous threats, including road kill, loss of habitat and persecution from many people. Large numbers of dead Snapping Turtles are seen on roads every year during the nesting season and most of these are adult females looking to lay their eggs. This threat alone likely is causing some populations to decline. Additional sources of mortality, such as from a legal hunt are likely not sustainable.”
Please see the Read more link for contacts necessary to make a brief submission and for more information.
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