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SUN TIMES (Owen Sound, Ontario) 26 May 08 Don't wait for thanks from a turtle (Scott Dunn)
You may never have considered picking up a turtle to help it cross the road. Until now, maybe.
Six of eight species of turtle found in Ontario are deemed at risk by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Road crossings are a big killer of turtles, with June a prime time for turtle crossings because they're looking for a place to lay eggs.
Ian McIntosh wants people to escort these entirely too blas‚ critters across the road and has some handy handling tips. The Toronto Zoo biologist, at Hibou Conservation Authority Saturday, talked to kids and their parents about turtles, frogs and how people can help conserve wetlands.
Snapping turtles can be commonly seen making a slow-motion dash around here, but they won't understand what's the rush when a helper arrives, so caution is advised.
Its surprisingly long neck may extend to nip your hands if they're holding its sides. Grabbing the snapping turtle's signature long, spiky tail risks dislocating the spine.
When traffic allows, grasp the back edge of the shell at the rear, palms up and lift. If it's too heavy, lift and gently push in the direction it was travelling. They carry salmonella, so wash your hands soon after.
If you don't want to give a turtle a lift, you may join the provincial Turtle Tally monitoring project. Or join Frogwatch Ontario, learn frog calls and report your field findings online. Go to www.torontozoo.com/AdoptAPond/TurtleTally.asp for details.
There are about 150 people participating in the Ontario Turtle Tally and some 750 frog and toad listeners.
The year 2008 is deemed the Year of the Frog by Amphibian Ark.
Sir David Attenborough, the nature documentarian, has been named Year of the Frog patron and he warns habitat loss is threatening hundreds of amphibious species around the world.
McIntosh said the health of frogs and other amphibians is a barometer of the health of the environment and the world humans live in. The amphibians' story is discouraging.
Frogs and other amphibians numbers are in "steep decline" worldwide, he said. "A lot of scientists are essentially saying this is the largest mass extinction since the loss of the dinosaurs."
Ontario's amphibians are also steeply declining because we are changing the environment by polluting water and air and developing natural areas, he said. The declining Fowler's Toad, the Cricket frog and other frogs not listed yet are indicators of human impact on the environment.
McIntosh said wetland ecosystems rely on amphibians and we rely on micro-organisms in wetlands to help clean our water before it ends up in lakes for us to drink.
Saturday's event was the first in in a four-part series of monthly educational programs organized by the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority. The next, June 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the administration centre near Inglis Falls, will be a live demonstration involving peregrine falcons.
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1042689