Turtle Hatching Season Winding Down During the 30th Year of Reptile Conservation Program

Based out of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) is one of the longest running and most successful reptile research and recovery programs in Canada. With efforts spanning three decades within the Upper Thames River watershed and beyond, many significant milestones have been achieved over the decades. One of these milestones is our reptile nest protection program. With increasing success each year, approximately 10,000 hatchling turtles have emerged out of incubators at the SOARR lab.

This nationally and internationally recognized program includes the research and conservation of a large number of at-risk reptile species. The SOARR program hatches out more endangered turtles than any other facility in Canada, and also assists many other Threatened and Special Concern species.

A brief overview of what the Southern Ontario At Risk Reptile program has achieved since 1994:

• Successfully reversing the rapid decline of Spiny Softshell Turtles along the Thames River.
• Incubating and releasing approximately 110,000 hatchling turtles of seven species.
• Locating and studying the largest known Canadian populations of multiple Threatened and Endangered reptile species, including the Spiny Softshell Turtle, Blanding’s Turtle, Spotted Turtle and Queensnake, among others.
• Providing training and experience to over 150 early-career biologists and technicians.
• Using the results of research to strengthen protections for reptiles locally, provincially, and nationally, and to draft recovery strategies and management plans.
• Providing expertise to individuals and organizations across Canada.
• Collaborating with community members, landowners, and other organizations to ensure the widest reach possible.
• Reaching tens of thousands of people directly through education programming, and hundreds of thousands through media stories and social media sites.

With SOARR since its inception, Scott Gillingwater, UTRCA Species At Risk Biologist, has spent the past three decades studying and protecting some of the rarest wildlife species in the province. Gillingwater’s efforts have had an important impact on the recovery of many reptiles at risk.

He has developed new and innovative approaches in species research and protection, and maintains one of the largest freshwater turtle egg incubation programs for endangered turtles in North America.

It may come as no surprise that Gillingwater has made it a life-long commitment to understand, protect, and conserve rare reptiles, both here in Ontario, as well as internationally. “Each season we learn a little more, and use that information to better our recovery efforts for species that now depend on human intervention for survival,” he said. “This has been one of our top two most successful seasons, and the successes we are seeing in the field provide hope for many of these rare reptile species.”

For the Endangered Spiny Softshell Turtle, the SOARR program has meant life or death for the species in the watershed. For the countless other species positively impacted by SOARR, we are gaining ground but there is much more left to accomplish.

One of the biggest hurdles is consistent, long-term funding. Those interested can provide funding through a tax-deductible donation that will immediately impact wildlife in your own region.

Donate online at www.thamesriverdonations.ca/species-at-risk

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@soarr_reptile
@utrca

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOntarioAtRiskReptiles
https://www.facebook.com/UpperThamesRiverConservationAuthority

Contact:
Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
[email protected]
519-495-0400