It’s a busy time of year for our park’s slowest movers! We have many turtles, like this Northern Map Turtle, looking for spots to lay their eggs, and we are busy covering their nests to protect them. Female Northern Map Turtles take around 12 years to reach maturity, and once mature they lay one clutch of 9-17 eggs every summer during June and July. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, water pollution, and road mortality, these turtles face many challenges and are categorized as a species at risk in Ontario. If driving around the park, make sure to pay extra attention to the roads and look out for turtles crossing! 🐢

If you do see a turtle making a nest, make sure to tell one of our staff so we can make sure it gets covered and protected from predators.