Appalachian Corridor to conduct a study along the Sutton River in summer 2021

May 21, 2021 (Eastman, QC) – As part of World Turtle Day on May 23, Appalachian Corridor and its regional conservation partners are raising awareness for turtle issues and highlighting a scientific project which aims to protect an endangered species on our territory, the wood turtle.

“In Quebec, there are seven species of freshwater turtles, six of which are in difficulty,” explains Victor Grivegnée-Dumoulin, biologist for Appalachian Corridor.

“In southern Quebec in particular, turtles face the most urbanized area of ​​the province and it is this proximity to humans that poses the most threat to the survival of the Eastern snapping turtle, the map turtle, the wood turtle, the Blanding’s turtle, the spiny softshell turtle and the Eastern musk turtle,” he adds.

In an effort to conserve endangered species, Appalachian Corridor launched a project to monitor wood turtles along the Sutton River. From May to October 2021, Appalachian Corridor’s experts will team up with members of the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) and carry out a telemetry study of this species. The study involves following a dozen of wood turtles in real-time through transmitters. This research will, among other things, characterize the environments used by turtles and identify potential threats to their survival.

“The most recent results from the monitoring carried out on the wood turtle population show a very significant decline in the number of turtles,” explains Grivegnée-Dumoulin. “The increased mortality caused by human activities and the modification of the habitat of the Sutton River wood turtle are possibly the main factors explaining the major decline in this population,” he adds.

With the scientific information acquired during this study, local conservation organizations including the Appalachian Corridor, the watershed organization, the MFFP, as well as other community stakeholders will be better equipped and able to propose concrete actions to protect and re-establish the Sutton River wood turtle population.

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP TO PROTECT TURTLES – REMINDERS FOR WORLD TURTLE DAY

• If you see a turtle, report it on Carapace.ca. Doing so will help biologists compile important data about turtle movement trends in order to implement adapted protection programs.
• If you live near a body of water, be sure to cover your piles with soil, stones and sand to prevent a turtle from laying its eggs there and putting the survival of its young at risk.

CELEBRATE TURTLES AND YOU COULD WIN TWO DAY PASSES FOR THE GRANBY ZOO!

Submit a photo of your best turtle drawing on Appalachian Corridor’s Facebook page or on the Zoo de Granby’s page before Sunday May 23 at 10 pm and you’ll be entered in a raffle for two day passes for the Granby Zoo for this summer!

EIGHT REGIONAL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES

Last January, Appalachian Corridor was awarded more than $ 1 million over four years by the Government of Canada to help protect species at risk in the Northern Green Mountains region of southern Quebec.

In order to increase the positive outcomes from this investment for species at risk, Appalachian Corridor created a unique regional working group made up of environmental organizations including  Réseau de milieux naturels protégés, Conseil de gouvernance de l’eau des bassins versants de la rivière Saint-François, l’Organisme de bassin versant de la Yamaska, Fondation SETHY, QuébecOiseaux, Conservation de la Nature Canada and the Zoo de Granby.

All of these organizations are proud to participate in the promotion of World Turtle Day and to support the monitoring of species at risk in our region.

CONTACT
Marie-Hélène Thibeault
Communications coordinator
Appalachian Corridor

Cell : 579-488-6670