The Huron Stewardship Council and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority are bringing back Local Turtle Week this year.
Over the years, thousands of people have participated in popular turtle releases and the goal was to raise awareness of the threats turtles are facing and what people can do to minimize them.
But ABCA Healthy Watersheds Technician, Hope Brock, says they've had to modify the event this year because of the pandemic.
Brock says they'll still be releasing turtles.
“But not where a lot of people would be gathering. So we are hoping to share the releases that do happen on our social media channels or the Huron Stewardship Council's social media channels as well,” said Brock.
Brock says two of the biggest threats to turtles are getting run over by cars as they cross a road to lay their eggs and and competing with humans for habitat.
“We develop the landscape and when we do that, wetland habitat gets destroyed it gets strained, so we really need to look at where we want that development to occur," added Brock "And then where we already have developed, we need to protect it an enhance it, if possible.”
Local Turtle Week started on August 27th and continues until September 2nd.
