Watch for Turtles This Summer

Sunday, 7 June 2020 07:30

The Long Point Biosphere Reserve will be loaning "Watch for Turtle" signs to home owners after the continued high water levels in the marshes are causing turtles to go farther in looking for nesting sites and summer locations.

LONG POINT - Anyone heading to Long Point this summer is being asked to watch for turtles on the roads.

Continued high water levels in Long Point’s marshes are causing turtles to wander farther afield searching for nesting sites and summer locations. That’s why the Long Point Biosphere Reserve (LPBR) is loaning “Watch for Turtles” signs to property owners along the Causeway and throughout Long Point.

LPBR president Rick Levick says the colorful, two-sided signs come with a wire stand for easy installation close to the roadside where they will be seen by passing motorists.

“The high water levels and storm surges have done such extensive damage to the exclusion fencing along the Causeway that the LPBR has had to postpone repairs to the fencing this year."

Levick explained that leaving large gaps in the fencing funnel wildlife into high risk zones and having fencing on just one side of the road risks trapping animals on the roadway. Instead, the LPBR decided to focus on encouraging motorists to watch for turtles and other wildlife crossing Long Point’s roads. The new “Watch for Turtles” signs are in addition to the large electronic message sign and “Turtle Crossing” signs along the Causeway.

“We’re hoping to prevent the death and injury of turtles and other wildlife on Long Point and throughout the LPBR by asking people to set up these signs on their properties."

Residents and cottagers in the Long Point area who are interested in helping protect our wildlife on roads by setting up a “Watch for Turtles” sign on their properties, should contact Cindy Presant at (519) 586-9258, or John Everett, at (519) 777-2873, to arrange for no-contact curbside pick-up.