FRom the NatureList:
COSEWIC, the national body responsible for assessing endangered species has just issued their latest evaluations.
The Blanding's Turtle of Ontario and Quebec now joins the list of species at risk. This now means that 6 of Ontario's eight species of turtles are now designated at some national level. Only the Painted Turtle and Snapping Turtle are not designated.
Dave
Seburn Ecological Services
920 Mussell Road seburns@cyberus.ca
RR #1 Oxford Mills, ON (613) 258-6142
K0G 1S0
My long history with turtles has been marked time and again by loss of place, by the physical and spiritual annihilation of the landscape, compelling me to move on in search of wilder places.
David M Carroll
Self-Portrait With Turtles
COSEWIC assessment:
Blanding's Turtle Emydoidea blandingii Threatened
Great Lakes population
Assessment Criteria C2a(i)
Reason for Designation
The Great Lakespopulation of this species although widespread and fairly numerous is declining. Subpopulations are increasingly fragmented by the extensive road network that crisscrosses all of this turtle's habitat. Having delayed age at maturity, low reproductive output and extreme longevity makes this turtle highly vulnerable to increased rates of mortality of adults. Nesting females are especially susceptible to roadkill because they often attempt to nest on gravel roads or on shoulders of paved roads. Loss of mature females in such a long-lived species greatly reduces recruitment and long-term viability of subpopulations. Another threat is degradation of habitat from development and alteration of wetlands. The pet trade is another serious ongoing threat because nesting females are most vulnerable to collection.
Range ON QC
Status History
Designated Threatened in May 2005.
