Shell yeah, we have more than 60,000 uploaded observations on iNaturalist Canada!

iNaturalist Canada is a powerful community science platform that allows people across the country to record the native and exotic species they see. Understanding what species occur in different parts of the country is important to protecting species and their habitats.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation's Help the Turtles (Aidons les tortues) project pulls together all the observations of turtles in Canada on iNaturalist. In June of this year, the project achieved a major milestone: 60,000 observations of turtles! More than 11,000 people have contributed observations of turtles in Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and every province in between. What can we learn from these observations?

Details at https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/60-thousand-turtle-observations/

If you submit a photo of a Blanding’s Turtle in Ontario to iNaturalist Canada that is exactly what can happen.

Habitat loss remains an ongoing threat for many species. In particular, wetland loss threatens species since so many wetlands have already been lost. But we can all do something to help conserve our remaining wetlands.

The Blanding’s Turtle is listed as a Threatened species under the Ontario Endangered Species Act and the act provides habitat protection for threatened and endangered species. Wetlands up to two kilometres from an observation of a Blanding’s Turtle can be protected when there are multiple wetlands in the area. At a minimum, the wetland closest to the observation is protected. The habitat protection does not interfere with day to day activities around a wetland, or building a cottage nearby, but it would make it difficult to drain the wetland.

Any valid observation can increase the amount of protected wetland habitat. It can be a photo of a Blanding’s Turtle basking on a log, or even a dead individual on a road. Observations of Blanding’s Turtles need to be carefully collected to be considered valid by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. A clear photograph of the turtle is needed, along with the specific location and the date. If possible, make sure the photo shows the yellow neck of the turtle which clearly identifies it as a Blanding’s Turtle. And it is good to take more than one photo to make sure the turtle can be identified.

Find out more at: https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/how-to-protect-a-wetland-with-a-photograph/