Hamlin, Lillian

The purpose of this research was to assist the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) in analyzing their intake records and identifying the locations and details of mitigation measures that have been implemented in the province to reduce the mortality of turtles on roads. This project was complete by analyzing and mapping four years (2014–2017) of OTCC intake records to determine patterns of turtle mortality. Climate data, including temperature and precipitation, was also compared to determine potential drivers for the trends that arose in intake numbers. Through interviews conducted with individuals and organizations, locations of ecopassages were determined, and then examined to discuss their effectiveness. The results indicate that 84% of the turtles brought into the OTCC have been hit by cars, and that in 2017 the intake totals for the OTCC more than doubled. It is predicted that a decrease in precipitation in 2016, may have resulted in a population rebound when seasonal weather returned in 2017. In addition, a growing awareness about the OTCC appears to be a significant factor in these trends, as the spatial distribution of turtles in the OTCC intake records has increased by 16 km on average, and over 40,000 km in total over the past four years. In regards to mitigation measures, 80 different locations were identified and the features and effectiveness of these structures were discussed through a comparison with literature. It is recommended moving forward that the OTCC continue to monitor annual intake patterns and compile the locations of ecopassages in the province. It is evident that turtle populations are suffering as a result of habitat fragmentation from the development of road networks. The information presented in this project will help the OTCC become better prepared for years to come, and also assist in improving the communication and collaboration among stakeholders to increase the conservation of turtle populations in Ontario.