L’Amable resident promoting importance of saving North Hastings’ turtles

A local advocate is ramping up her efforts to save an at-risk species.

L’Amable’s Kelly Wallace will be hosting a number of information sessions this year to bring awareness to the risks facing North Hastings’ turtles. Wallace says seven of eight species in Ontario are facing extinction because of habitat loss, road mortality, and poaching.

Last year, the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre declared a state of emergency because of the high number of these reptiles hurt or killed on Ontario’s roads. Because of that, Wallace says she wanted to step up her efforts to raise awareness and get people involved in preserving the species.

Wallace says Bancroft’s First Annual Turtle Festival will be coming up in May. She says it will feature presentations from Ontario Nature, the Land Between, and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.

The festival will be held from 10:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday, May 5^th at the Bancroft Fish and Game Club.

Wallace will also host a number of information sessions in North Hastings to help residents understand what they can do to save turtles. ‘How We Can Help Turtles’ presentations will focus on the dangers the reptiles face on and off the road. They will be held at:

– The Bancroft Public Library from 6:00pm to 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 21st and April 11^th.

– The Carlow-Mayo Public Library from 6:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, March 29^th.

– The Hastings Highlands Public Library from 12:30pm to 1:30pm on Saturday, March 31^st.

‘Turtlely Speaking’ presentations will be geared towards kids, to teach them about the reptiles and get them excited to start saving them. They will be held at:

– The Carlow-Mayor Public Library from 11:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday, April 7^th.

– The Hastings Highlands Public Library from 12:30 to 1:30pm on Saturday, April 21^st.

Two presentations will also be held at the Faraday Community Centre.

– ‘Turtle Nest Protectors’ from 6:00pm to 9:00pm on Wednesdat April 18^th.

– ‘Turtles On The Road’ from 7:30pm to 9:00pm on Wednesday, April 25^th.

This year, the first annual Turtle Walk will also be taking place in the Bancroft area. Wallace says more information will be released in the coming weeks. You are being asked to email [email protected] if you plan on attending any of these events.