This Blanding’s Turtle nest hatched at our facility in 2021. Instead of being released back into the wild immediately after hatching, these turtles stayed at our conservation facility and took part in our head-starting program. In central Ontario, most turtle nests and hatchlings are eaten by predators, which is why the S.T.A.R.T Project excavates and captively incubates turtle nests laid in precarious areas. Usually, we incubate the nest in our walk-in incubator until they hatch and then we release the babies within a week of them hatching, in the same spot their nest was found. Starting in 2020, we began to keep some nests from specific locations which face higher risks. These turtles are kept for 2 years to give them a better chance of reaching a size which decreases their chances of being eaten. Special thanks to Community Volunteers and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority. Videography: Marta Aveta @marlaform Assistant: Quan Huynh Music: Background Piano Documentary By Manriquedelara

Pelee Island is the largest island in Lake Erie. It is a fascinating place with amazing biodiversity as it boasts a warm climate and a range of habitats such as savannas, beaches and wetlands. The landscapes are nothing short of extraordinary. Pelee Island is home to some truly unique creatures, including the elusive Blue Racer snake (Coluber constrictor foxii). These sleek, swift, slithering serpents are a stunning vibrant blue. They have slender heads with large eyes, smooth scales, and can reach over a meter in length. The belly is usually a lighter blue-green or whitish hue. Blue Racers are known for their quick reflexes and can move at speeds up to 16 km/hr over short distances. They use open habitats, where they actively hunt during the daytime. Despite their scientific name, the Blue Racer does not constrict its prey, which usually consists of insects, rodents, frogs, birds, or other snakes. In fact, Pelee Island is the LAST and ONLY place in all of Canada where you can encounter these amazing Blue Racers. Their presence highlights the island’s importance as a sanctuary for wildlife. Together, we can protect Pelee Island’s precious habitats and keep the beauty of the great outdoors alive!

A video about species at risk reptiles in the eastern Georgian Bay region, and some efforts underway to help conserve these species. Featured are the Blanding's turtle, spotted turtle, musk turtle, massasauga rattlesnake, hog-nosed snake and foxsnake. Learn about these amazing creatures, and how you can get involved with helping them!

An in-depth look at our efforts to conserve turtles in central Ontario, and the perspectives of our team of field technicians who wade, swim, hike and drive in search of turtles. Recorded during the 2019 field season. License for music purchased on EnvatoMarket by Jeff Hathaway

How strong is a snapping turtle's bite? Not as strong as many people think. They can't snap through broomsticks, and not through the average finger, either! Don't confuse them with alligator snapping turtles, which are much bigger and stronger- those only live in the southeastern USA, very far from Canada! This video was created by one of our summer staff as part of our conservation work. Thanks, Emily! Music: https://www.bensound.com Metalicious by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/