PHOTO: Display models of Ontario’s eight native freshwater turtle species, left to righ: the Snapping, Painted, Northern Map, Eastern Musk, Blanding’s, Wood, Spotted, and Spiny Softshell Turtles. Photo by Bob Halberstadt
The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands are rolling out a new Turtle Conservation Program for the Goulbourn Wetland Complex and its two tributaries, Poole Creek and Flowing Creek.
To gauge community support for this initiative, the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands hosted an “All About Turtles” Earth Day Forum in April. The event raised public awareness about turtles, conservation efforts, and explored the key elements and benefits of rolling out a community science program for our community.
The Friends of Stittsville Wetlands Turtle Conservation Program will be rolled out in two phases from 2026 to 2027. Learn more about our eight native freshwater turtle species, how you can help them, and the Turtle Conservation Program by visiting the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands website.
Speakers and participants at the turtle forum, left to right: Janet Mason, Chair, Friends of Carp Hills, David Seburn, Freshwater Turtle Specialist, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Lisa Browning, Education Coordinator, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, Janet Stavinga, President and Co-Founder, Rudy Stavinga, Treasurer, Bruce Dudley, Vice President, Friends of Stittsville Wetlands. Photo by Bob Halberstadt