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Rare turtle recovery and wildlife corridor issues at Cootes Paradise Marsh

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  • Rare turtle recovery and wildlife corridor issues at Cootes Paradise Marsh
Sarah Richer, Royal Botanical Gardens
Tys Theijsmeijer, Royal Botanical Gardens
Mitigation / restoration
Technical Session 16: Conserving Habitat Connectivity within an Urban Context

Turtle populations at the western tip of Lake Ontario are challenged by two centuries of land use redevelopment with most wetlands lost from the area. Within Royal Botanical Gardens property remains two large rivermouth coastal marshes covering a total of 320 hectares, with these areas representing the western tip of Lake Ontario. Despite substantial historical and ongoing habitat impairment both marshes continue to support multiple species of turtles. The areas are part of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan and in addition to the habitat impairment, both marshes have roads built through them, with extensive roadkill occurring. In 2014, the Board of Royal Botanical Gardens approved a Multi-species Turtle Recovery Plan which continues marsh restoration and further engages with partner organizations to remediate the roadkill and nesting challenges faced by turtles. Project partners have included City of Hamilton, Hamilton Conservation Authority, Hydro One, and the local Community Volunteer Group Dundas Turtle Watch. Substantial progress has been made in mitigating roadkill and nesting issues, highlighted by about 1.5 km of road barrier established. Work will continue through 2021 and beyond, and will also continue to partner with City of Burlington at Plains Road West.

urban
turtle
Fencing
Community
Wetlands
Partnerships

Header image courtesy of Martin Gradjean -- Air Traffic Network

ICOET 2025 — International Conference On Ecology and Transportation