Raising Awareness and Reducing Speeds - Toronto Zoo

Protecting Turtles on Roads:
Raising Awareness and Reducing Speeds
Duncan Smith, Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Overview
• Background Info (quick and dirty)
• Turtles of Nova Scotia
• Blanding’s Turtle
• Protecting Turtles on Our Roads
• Rationale
• Implementation
• Evaluation Mechanisms
• Next Steps

Turtles of Nova Scotia
Q: What are the 4 freshwater turtles in Nova Scotia?
Eastern Painted Turtle
© Duncan Smith
Common Snapping Turtle
Wood Turtle
unknown
© Duncan Smith
Blanding’s Turtle

The Blanding’s Turtle
Q: What is the status of the Blanding’s Turtle in Nova Scotia?
A: Endangered
Q: What is the estimated population size in Nova Scotia?
A: 300 adults
© Duncan Smith

Protecting Turtles on Our Roads
1. Turtles are killed by cars on our roads every year.
• Adult females nest on the roadsides each year
• 5 of 35 known breeding females in Kejimkujik
nest on the roadsides.
• 3 of 38 adult females killed in less than one
generation (almost 10%)
• Each year, more than 60% of hatchlings from a single
roadside nest may be car casualties
2. Female Blanding’s turtles have specific nesting areas
• Designated Blanding’s turtle critical habitat - essential for the survival
of the species they receive Kejimkujik’s highest level of protection.

• Critical Habitat was partially delineated in 2006
• Mapped out “Turtle Zones” on Keji’s Roads
• Developed a strategy which focused on actions and education
• Actions
• Education:
Protecting Turtles on Our Roads
- Seasonal sign and speed bump placement
- Evaluation of effectiveness (actions & education)
- Developed key messages
- Designed marketing tools
“Give Turtles a Brake!”

Turtle Zones
Type 1 – significant nesting area
for painted or snapping turtles
Measures:
• generic turtle sign
Type 2 – Blanding’s nesting sites
Measures:
• signage that explicitly states
“endangered species nesting area”
• J-Line: reduce speed to 20km/hr
with signs and speed bumps.

Education: Key Messages
1. Turtle Zones are areas frequently used by female turtles for nesting. Turtle signs
mean: slow down, watch carefully and stay on the pavement.
2. What to watch for:
• In June, female Blanding’s turtles nest
on the roadside
• In September and October, tooniesized
hatchlings are on the pavement
© Norm Green, Friends of Keji
3. The federal Species At Risk Act legally protects Blanding’s turtles and their habitat.
There are very substantial fines for individuals who purposefully or negligently disturb or
destroy these turtles or their habitat.
4. YOU can help protect Blanding’s turtles
Respecting turtle zones, reporting sightings to park staff and getting involved with recovery
activities – you can help protect this endangered species.

Education: Marketing
Marketing:
• T-shirts
• Bumper Stickers
• Visitor Guide
• Small Signs (future)

Evaluating Success
Quantitative Evaluation Methods
• Number of turtles hit by cars
• Number of people contacted through programs
• Quantity of Merchandise distributed
• Number of questions asked about Turtle Zones
Qualitative Evaluation Methods
• Measure the audiences knowledge of the projects key messages
• Determine changes in driving behaviour

Evaluating Success: : Knowledge
n = 163

Evaluating Success: Behaviour

Next Steps
• Enhance Protection of Blanding’s Turtle Sites in the fall
• Proposed Options to date:
• Tunnels / Fences to limit
movement
• Hatchling specific media
• Headstart hatchlings
• Move hatchlings
• A combination of the above?
© Jan Bell, Friends of Keji

Next Steps
• Develop Protection Mechanisms
for Outside Kejimkujik
• Proposed Options to date:
• Work with Communities
• Work with DOT
• Signs
• Habitat Modifications
• What we discover here!

Special Thanks
Brennan Caverhill
Stephen Flemming
Tom Herman
Jeffie McNiel
Friends of Keji Cooperating Association
The Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Team
The Parks Canada Species at Risk Recovery Action
and Education Fund (SARRAEF)

Contact Information
Duncan.smith@pc.gc.ca
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
Box 236, Maitland Bridge
Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0
All photos copyright Parks Canada unless stated otherwise.