The Road to Extinction: A Call to End the Snapping Turtle Hunt

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation and partners
Partners: Ontario Nature, Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre

Biodiversity species at risk, conservation, Ontario, turtles, water systems, human health and wellbeing, chemicals and toxins

This report outlines the most significant threats to snapping turtles, including the hunt and road mortality. It identifies eight Ontario road mortality hotspots for turtles and discusses the potential of eco-passages, such as those currently being installed along Highway 400, to address this threat.

The report also examines the levels of two persistent toxins — polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury — that these top predators absorb from Ontario’s sometimes highly polluted lakes, marshes and rivers. The level of toxins found in turtles should ring warning bells for all of us, given that we live near these water systems and ultimately depend on them. The report concludes by identifying actions people can take to ensure that the snapping turtle endures long into the future.