Send An Email to the Ontario Government

To:

The Honourable Kathryn McGarry (Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry); Wildlife Section, Public Input Coordinator, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Body:

I urge the government of Ontario to reconsider the snapping turtle harvest. Snapping Turtles already face a number of threats, most of which are caused by human activity. Let’s not put further stress on the population by allowing the hunt to continue.

The Proposed Management Plan for Ontario specifically states that “considering the reproductive strategy of the Snapping Turtle (i.e., delayed sexual maturity, high embryo mortality, extended adult longevity; see section 3.4 – Limiting Factors), harvesting (legal or illegal) of adults and older juveniles is especially harmful for wild populations. Van Dijk (2012) reported that in some areas at the northern limit of the Snapping Turtle’s range, harvesting of these turtles has resulted in significant declines in local populations.”

The Proposed Management Plan also includes the specific reason for the species being designated at risk indicating “when these threats cause even apparently minor increases in the mortality of adults, populations are likely to decline as long as these mortality increases persist” and goes on to point out that the threats to individuals are additive. Even minor amounts of mortality from harvesting adults would contribute to population decline. The negative implications of the loss of a single reproductive female are sizable given the low odds for a juvenile to survive long enough to become sexually mature. Likewise, once a female is reproducing she can lay a clutch of eggs every year for decades so removing such an individual from the population results in many lost generations. Given the impact of removing even a single adult turtle and the uncertainty in harvest numbers there simply should be no allowable harvest of snapping turtles.

Furthermore, while unlikely, the proposed hunting regulation does mean that it would be within the law for one person or a group of individuals to cause the extirpation of a local population by harvesting a local area repeatedly. Under this regulation, harvesters could remove a significant portion of adult turtles in a wetland provided they never harvest more than one per day and are never in possession of more than two.

From:

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Postal Code:

Yes, I'd like to receive communications from CWF. I know that I can unsubscribe at any time. Learn more from our privacy policy.

Today, We Are Asking You to Take a Stand!

Tell the Ontario government to end the Snapping Turtle hunt.

The Snapping Turtle — a provincial and federal species at risk — is already facing a number of threats, most of which are caused by human activity. Let’s not put further stress on the population by allowing the hunt to continue.

View CWF’s full statement on the Snapping Turtle hunt in Ontario »

Only 1 in 36 Snapping Turtle hatchlings reach adulthood.

~James Pagé, CWF Endangered Species Manager

End the Ontario Snapping Turtle Hunt

Send An Email to the Ontario Government

To:

Body:

From:

Today, We Are Asking You to Take a Stand!

Tell the Ontario government to end the Snapping Turtle hunt.

The Snapping Turtle — a provincial and federal species at risk — is already facing a number of threats, most of which are caused by human activity. Let’s not put further stress on the population by allowing the hunt to continue.

Donate Today

End the Ontario Snapping Turtle Hunt

Send An Email to the Ontario Government

To:

Body:

From:

Today, We Are Asking You to Take a Stand!

Tell the Ontario government to end the Snapping Turtle hunt.

The Snapping Turtle — a provincial and federal species at risk — is already facing a number of threats, most of which are caused by human activity. Let’s not put further stress on the population by allowing the hunt to continue.

Common Snapping Turtle

Coasts & Oceans: Turtle Conservation

Should you help a turtle as it’s crossing a road?

Supporting the Snapping Turtle

Donate Today

Coasts & Oceans:
Turtle Conservation