{"id":11645,"date":"2020-08-05T12:30:16","date_gmt":"2020-08-05T17:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/blog\/?p=11645"},"modified":"2026-08-10T12:15:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:15:56","slug":"turtles-play-by-their-own-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/turtles-play-by-their-own-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Turtles play by their own rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-ift4vzx-c7b4b0fcb7310b27b58759e4a8f3ce8e main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  blog-inner avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-11645'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplg178i-50ebc724eb0c04828b93cca5fdd4958c\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplg178i-50ebc724eb0c04828b93cca5fdd4958c img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplg178i-50ebc724eb0c04828b93cca5fdd4958c .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplg178i-50ebc724eb0c04828b93cca5fdd4958c av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  inner-blog-banner-full-width-img'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-53194 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-53194 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_FloodedHorseField_SMcDonald.jpg' alt='Flooded Horse Field on a sunny day with murky water and lots of trees.' title='TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_FloodedHorseField_SMcDonald'  height=\"738\" width=\"1019\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplg1rrh-1123f8d46c9d3536ddbff39f930c88bb\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mplg1rrh-1123f8d46c9d3536ddbff39f930c88bb{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mplg1rrh-1123f8d46c9d3536ddbff39f930c88bb .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mplg1rrh-1123f8d46c9d3536ddbff39f930c88bb .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mplg1rrh-1123f8d46c9d3536ddbff39f930c88bb av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote modern-centered  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_post_metadata'><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Turtles play by their own rules<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1tw3hdp-1fe26427dbd8d7f4f9e9afbb67df1b8a\">\n#top .av-post-metadata-container.av-1tw3hdp-1fe26427dbd8d7f4f9e9afbb67df1b8a{\nfont-size:16px;\n}\n#top .av-post-metadata-container.av-1tw3hdp-1fe26427dbd8d7f4f9e9afbb67df1b8a .av-post-metadata-container-inner{\nfont-size:16px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-post-metadata-container av-1tw3hdp-1fe26427dbd8d7f4f9e9afbb67df1b8a av-metadata-container-align-left  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last  av-metadata-container-1'><div class='av-post-metadata-container-inner'><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-meta-content\"><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-published\"><span class=\"av-metadata-before av-metadata-before-published\">Publi\u00e9 le<\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-published-date\" >ao\u00fbt 5, 2020<\/span><\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-separator\"><\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-author\"  itemprop=\"author\" ><span class=\"av-metadata-before av-metadata-before-author\">par<\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-author-name\" >Faune des milieux humides de la vall\u00e9e du Fraser<\/span><\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-separator\"><\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-category\"><span class=\"av-metadata-before av-metadata-before-categories\">|<\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/freshwater-turtles\/\" >Tortues d'eau douce<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/category\/news-and-events\/\" >Actualit\u00e9s et \u00e9v\u00e9nements<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/species\/western-painted-turtle\/\" >Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-gaz59rx-c8b1d9f66c209d05bed98217ce240816 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  species-inner-content-intro-wrapper avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-11645'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-fp06wm5-075213c39d7ef66b228eecfbac8c67b1\">\n.flex_column.av-fp06wm5-075213c39d7ef66b228eecfbac8c67b1{\npadding:25px 25px 25px 25px;\nbackground-color:#f8fbf4;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-fp06wm5-075213c39d7ef66b228eecfbac8c67b1 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-first  light-section first flex_column_div'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplg4s7w-3b015729b145099af0b3e11dd5cbecdc'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div>\n<section>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Qu'est-ce que le Programme de r\u00e9tablissement de la tortue peinte de l'Ouest ?<\/strong> In the wetlands of B.C.\u2019s Fraser Valley, western painted turtles face many challenges, especially as eggs and tiny hatchlings. With no shortage of hungry predators and no care from their parents once they\u2019ve hatched, only a few young turtles survive to become adults. When you add human activity to the mix, the rate of survival can be so low that a population becomes unsustainable. Since 2012, we\u2019ve been working to improve those odds. In addition to protecting nests, we collect eggs from vulnerable turtle nests, artificially incubate them and head-start new hatchlings before releasing them back into the wild.\u2060<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-fbp5ja5-7313f447681df0674ed0482b8f7311e9 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplg53o7-d4820dabd2309143648dd69914f7dcbf'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>It was a tricky year for the western painted turtles and for wetland monitors. Luckily, even in the topsy-turvy year of 2020 we were able to get into the field and help out one of British Columbia\u2019s endangered species. A good thing too. Not only did the season start off with a lot of cooler days and rainy weather, we also experienced a lot of flooding and an increased mosquito population. While many can say they\u2019ve donated blood, I can say that I have spent much of my time being an unwilling interspecies blood donor!<\/p>\n<p>Generally during the evening after donning full body mosquito suit and as much bug spray as I could stand, I would see a turtle and assess what it is they were up to. They could be wandering, digging, basking or just letting me know I\u2019m unwelcome with a hiss.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-eulrwf1-c96533a301038300321f70139af6af2f av_one_full  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplg85wc-502346b8a9585f7def726bf0397bf416\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplg85wc-502346b8a9585f7def726bf0397bf416 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplg85wc-502346b8a9585f7def726bf0397bf416 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplg85wc-502346b8a9585f7def726bf0397bf416 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-10  avia-builder-el-no-sibling'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img class='wp-image-53195 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-53195 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_PaintedTurtleInHand_SMcDonald.jpg' alt='Western Painted Turtle in the hands of a WPC employee.' title='TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_PaintedTurtleInHand_SMcDonald'  height=\"738\" width=\"1019\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-elavkn1-d934bb64043590a33122f6c7c96f07cd\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-elavkn1-d934bb64043590a33122f6c7c96f07cd{\nheight:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-elavkn1-d934bb64043590a33122f6c7c96f07cd hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_textblock'><span class='hr-inner'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplg8p3r-12a774ff31d381c9b502b7f3667bf5d3'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><em>One of our nesting female turtles, giving us her lovely &#8220;neutral turtle&#8221; face.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='flex_column av-dyjejlp-6d2b82707b11d81ce29027f30874043e av_one_full  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplg96tg-3af850b153bc05e8c9ac9832501d8863'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Site preparation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Despite delays in much of the world, the turtles carried on with their nesting season; albeit a little later than the normal mid-May to mid-July period. Much of the work in May involves habitat restoration, where we go in to clean up the nesting sites. This includes wrestling blackberry runners, pulling up blackberry roots, cutting back blackberry bushes, and some general weeding and removal of debris. Thankfully, the mosquitoes aren\u2019t quite in full swing at that time and you can shed blood in this battle without fear of attracting an itchy aftermath. As we are making the nesting areas optimal for the painted ladies some of the early nesters will swim by with scrutinizing looks and roam the weeded areas judgmentally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">If we see a turtle we watch them first, sometimes at a distance if they are alarmed by our presence or go into rock-mode and not move until they feel safe. At times I felt akin to a stalker, searching for my targets and watching from behind bushes or intently looking through binoculars to assess their behaviour. If they seem to be a little aimless, or are ready to head back home I\u2019d run in and capture them. Sounds like a criminal offense when you don\u2019t insert the word turtle anywhere in there, doesn\u2019t it? <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Data collection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">We want to encourage nesting so we don\u2019t want to intefere with the turtles unless they don\u2019t look like they\u2019re going to get to digging right away. When we do get our hands on an individual turtle we record data like their ID, shell size, tail, and claw lengths. These data records allow for comparisons to past years and let us see the individuals\u2019 growth over time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Identifying a turtle can be a tedious task but western painted turtles have beautiful patterns on their tummy\u2019s (called plastrons) which are unique and act the same as a fingerprint. Each pattern is correlated to a shell-code, which is like a name, and we safely write the code on their shell so we know who they are all season &#8211; handy if you don\u2019t want to be re-recording the same turtle over and over. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Protection des nids<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN-CA\">When a turtle makes a nest we need to make sure it is protected, this means moving ones that are laid in unsafe areas like, peoples yards, roadways, roadsides, and industrial places like quarries. While a small fraction of the nests do get collected for incubation at Greater Vancouver Zoo, the rest are given a safe spot and a \u201ccage\u201d is placed on top to protect the eggs until they are ready to hatch. Helps for knowing where not to step too! <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-djzanrx-9a3be3f97e5bb30066d0342a00863cdb av_one_full  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplgbwqr-d87c5c57d30fdccb2d46d2c8284f27e1\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgbwqr-d87c5c57d30fdccb2d46d2c8284f27e1 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgbwqr-d87c5c57d30fdccb2d46d2c8284f27e1 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplgbwqr-d87c5c57d30fdccb2d46d2c8284f27e1 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-16  avia-builder-el-no-sibling'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img class='wp-image-53196 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-53196 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_TurtleNestCage_SMcDonald.jpg' alt='A side by side images of a cage above a western painted turtle nest on the right, and the cage secured into the ground on the right.' title='TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_TurtleNestCage_SMcDonald'  height=\"738\" width=\"1019\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-26la8t9-1788843295d1ebe159968e83fc3c08e3\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-26la8t9-1788843295d1ebe159968e83fc3c08e3{\nheight:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-26la8t9-1788843295d1ebe159968e83fc3c08e3 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_textblock'><span class='hr-inner'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplgcsrb-829c331ddb1e3beaa14360e6656910ad'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><span lang=\"EN-CA\"><em>Here a cage is applied over a nest. This keeps out digging predators like raccoons and also marks the nest so we can check on it later. The mesh size is such that should hatching and emergence occur before<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='flex_column av-d5bz1a5-da019c4c52de634ed7c2c31926b955e8 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplgdzf7-75f729dc63990e309e66e319bb9f1a42'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Nesting behaviour<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Often turtle basking is done on floating logs or fallen branches that they can access from the water. We would count how many we could see and use it as an indicator that we might have a busy nesting day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Turns out these ladies like to tease us biologists by swimming by our weeded sites, not leave their sun spots or refuse to nest. Some of them would bypass the beautifully made nesting sites, where we can protect their eggs, in order to cross roads, climb hills, and attempt to nest in the rockiest of areas. As you can imagine, a turtle digging in a densely compact, rocky path might be really hard to accomplish. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">However these ladies seem to be as figuratively hard-headed as they are hard-shelled. There are turtles that insist on attempting, and very surprisingly sometimes succeed in, digging in the middle or sides of gravel paths and quarry hills. One such painted lady was my nemesis this season, turtle #18-567. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-compdgd-aa135df11816270cc6d99b8cf866a1b1 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplgfrif-c6a2a9272845cd4db313598e8ce5345f\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgfrif-c6a2a9272845cd4db313598e8ce5345f img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgfrif-c6a2a9272845cd4db313598e8ce5345f .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplgfrif-c6a2a9272845cd4db313598e8ce5345f av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-22  avia-builder-el-no-sibling'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img class='wp-image-53197 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-53197 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_PaintedTurtleInRocks_SMcDonald.jpg' alt='Western Painted Turtle nesting in a bed of rocks.' title='TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_PaintedTurtleInRocks_SMcDonald'  height=\"738\" width=\"1019\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1mi9frx-c50701d44d9b33ac6bc9b78ddbe023b1\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1mi9frx-c50701d44d9b33ac6bc9b78ddbe023b1{\nheight:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-1mi9frx-c50701d44d9b33ac6bc9b78ddbe023b1 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_textblock'><span class='hr-inner'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplggeja-949788c313cc45874c6e8da9542663e4'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><em>This female turtle decided to nest in the middle of the rock fall at the quarry. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='flex_column av-cccglb1-e53d078ce2bf0117ff7039e1adb90661 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-25  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplggxnj-ed0d9c89ecbbc7b93a12cfec77355630'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>A turtle biologist&#8217;s nemisis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll back up a little. Each biologist in any similar position might understand and even have a nemesis in the field. This is an individual who seemingly continuously mocks your effort in some way. For me it was #567, or \u201cNemmy\u201d, who insisted she nest at a very steep, very rocky area that also happened to be a u-turn spot for drivers. I had even dug perfectly usable holes for her in there, however refusing to take any help, the single independent painted lady carried on to make a total of seven attempts over the span of a little over a week. Each time I would capture and release her at the nearest nicely groomed and safe beach. Eventually I decided to release her at a much further beach from the main nesting site.<\/p>\n<p>A few days went by and she was seen far from her release site and back close to her \u201cspecial spot\u201d. Finally, a total of a month and six days after her first seen attempt, her 9th attempt to nest was a success on the groomed nesting beach. Yes, you are correct, the beach I released her at six separate times beforehand. She was mostly seen by me on my shifts, not on any of the other biologists shifts, hence my nemesis. Although a frustrating process, probably for the both of us, it was incredibly rewarding when she ultimately nested.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Invasive species<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Asides from blackberry removal it is also important to keep an eye out for the western painted turtle\u2019s invasive competitor, the red-eared slider. I found one on one of my shifts and lucky for future western painted turtles this one had not yet laid a nest. Sliders are hardy, reach sexual maturity fairly early, grow large, grow fast, and more often than not out compete western painted turtles for resources. These resources include basking areas, nesting sites and food that native turtle species get bullied away from, often literally. The western painted turtles here have been competing with these sliders in a mortal game of survival to exist.<\/p>\n<p>With limited access to crucial resources our painted ladies and guys experience a higher mortality rate. So for the survivorship of our native species the invasive ones like red-eared sliders and bullfrogs need to be removed from these habitats.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-bxtuahp-0e766ef99bf967b8b76a0ddaa51636b4 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-27  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplgja6w-0d622b6fdbbc7f19064b209ae77c8b5f\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgja6w-0d622b6fdbbc7f19064b209ae77c8b5f img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgja6w-0d622b6fdbbc7f19064b209ae77c8b5f .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplgja6w-0d622b6fdbbc7f19064b209ae77c8b5f av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-28  avia-builder-el-no-sibling'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img class='wp-image-53198 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-53198 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_RedEaredSlider_SMcDonald.jpg' alt='A red eared slider on the ground, motionless.' title='TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_RedEaredSlider_SMcDonald'  height=\"738\" width=\"1019\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-19z5app-62dd08a809ba877f2fd9ce7460a01c9e\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-19z5app-62dd08a809ba877f2fd9ce7460a01c9e{\nheight:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-19z5app-62dd08a809ba877f2fd9ce7460a01c9e hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-29  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full'><span class='hr-inner'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-bakg459-406bb6b1b69b40492dd40dc3ac4c5e08 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-30  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplgjmjk-32ed1050aced1d14239723164261068b'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><em>Removing red eared sliders is crucial for the survival of the western painted turtle.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Record breaking year<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">2020 was a record breaking year for nests. The site I worked in had 56 nests in 2019 and over 60 this year. In addition the record number of eggs per clutch went from 24 to 26! <\/span><span lang=\"EN-CA\">This is an accomplishment for that little painted lady considering most of the larger clutches I counted were closer to 17 eggs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Having so many eggs in the field made it a little difficult when the site flooded half the beaches and the entirety of a regular search area. This meant that a lot of nests that were in previously safe and protected areas needed to be moved, some of them for a second time. There are certain cases where a flooded nest can survive but to increase their chances we needed to move them.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-tyl4hp-757955829e5394705fb6fd15a3b5270a av_one_full  avia-builder-el-32  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplgz3sz-ae6b932fc418743142fa6d5da813d210\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgz3sz-ae6b932fc418743142fa6d5da813d210 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgz3sz-ae6b932fc418743142fa6d5da813d210 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplgz3sz-ae6b932fc418743142fa6d5da813d210 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-33  avia-builder-el-no-sibling'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img class='wp-image-53194 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-53194 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_FloodedHorseField_SMcDonald.jpg' alt='Flooded Horse Field on a sunny day with murky water and lots of trees.' title='TurtlesPlayByTheirOwnRules_FloodedHorseField_SMcDonald'  height=\"738\" width=\"1019\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-uuodzx-6aced3a6f570a8438305591cf108285b\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-uuodzx-6aced3a6f570a8438305591cf108285b{\nheight:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-uuodzx-6aced3a6f570a8438305591cf108285b hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-34  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full'><span class='hr-inner'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-ahwjmgt-0e8c0031c33df1f40cfa26540e07298f av_one_full  avia-builder-el-35  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplgkxf9-7d78e7de18aaaf727d1819b882259cb1'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\"><em>A flooded horse field often used by turtles. The dry field starts in the foreground right after the blackberry, and the decorative red maples are normally well onto dry land. From where this photo was taken, water would not normally be visible.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Relocating nests<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Once eggs are laid there is a certain amount of time\u00a0 before you have to be meticulous about how they are moved. If eggs are over 48 hrs you have to be careful to keep each egg in the same orientation they were inside the nest. Even then we are careful with rotation of eggs after the first 24 hours. This can be difficult since the turtles don\u2019t dig large openings to their nests. You have to place them into a transfer container then place them again into a new nest spot, all the while mimicking as perfectly as possible the same orientation you found them in. Now imagine doing that with mosquitoes biting you through any part of the protective gear we wore that touched skin or thin material. Thank goodness for their inability to bite through my gloves, otherwise the job would\u2019ve been insanely draining, literally. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Hope for the population<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">The season for nesting had its difficulties for sure, however the rewards were great. Seeing these turtles returning for many years, some of them with many war wounds from wild encounters (missing tail tips, a leg, front claws, and chunks of outer shell!) shows how resilient these creatures are and need to be. Seeing tiny hatchlings basking on logs next to much larger, experienced individuals gives hope the population will continue to thrive and flourish. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"background: white;\"><span lang=\"EN-CA\">Throughout our season we were surrounded by nature, thoughtful private landowners, considerate visitors, and the breathtaking sunsets. Even with the adamant, parasitic, unwanted guests it was hard not to appreciate all the beauty that came with the work I did there. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-a1fm13x-a376a19aa931975cba0bf31e6e04cef1\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-a1fm13x-a376a19aa931975cba0bf31e6e04cef1{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-a1fm13x-a376a19aa931975cba0bf31e6e04cef1 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-37  el_after_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-last'><span class='hr-inner'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_3'  class='avia-section av-9lxzfx9-fa1df3538681b221c835415efca82e7c main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-38  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  blog-inner avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-11645'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div  class='flex_column av-8zpx57h-04b5146d259db44630d140c01798ceca av_one_full  avia-builder-el-39  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  author-section first flex_column_div'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mplglgyr-65959800ba47dd934f47da471b62022b'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">Sara McDonald<\/h3>\n<h5 class=\"et_pb_member_position\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Western Painted Turtle Nest Monitoring Technician<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n<p>Sara joined WPC for the 2020 season with the Fraser Valley Wetlands Recovery team\u00a0 to conduct nest monitoring and protection. This season, that sometimes involved wearing a full body mosquito net.<span style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; background-color: #dfebc8; float: none;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mplgmx78-55e20c9d27febda0bbb17587036541bd\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgmx78-55e20c9d27febda0bbb17587036541bd img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mplgmx78-55e20c9d27febda0bbb17587036541bd .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mplgmx78-55e20c9d27febda0bbb17587036541bd av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-41  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  author-pic'   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img class='wp-image-30712 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-30712 avia_image' src='https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/web-sara-2-300x261.jpg' alt='' title='web-sara-2'  height=\"261\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='blog-inner'  class='avia-section av-7aaky59-88c102392cbf51c2c32e2cc6113d6c3a main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-42  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  blog-section avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-11645'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div  id=\"recent-articles-project\"  class='flex_column av-6sd72e5-c0a51dba8ee3957a9465833afe2e00bd av_one_full  avia-builder-el-43  el_before_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-first  more-articles-section first flex_column_div'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-66uo9j1-c5c035784fcc329275c9fcf9a0d2a24a'   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Articles r\u00e9cents sur le projet<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-5w1arwd-ef37ba11fc201ca30ea77770f8c30fc6\">\n#top .flex_column.av-5w1arwd-ef37ba11fc201ca30ea77770f8c30fc6{\nmargin-top:20px;\nmargin-bottom:15px;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_column.av-5w1arwd-ef37ba11fc201ca30ea77770f8c30fc6{\nmargin-top:20px;\nmargin-bottom:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5w1arwd-ef37ba11fc201ca30ea77770f8c30fc6 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-45  el_after_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-last  first flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><div  class='av-alb-blogposts template-blog  blog-home'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Blog\" ><article class=\"post-entry post-entry-type-standard post-entry-50049 post-loop-1 post-parity-odd single-big with-slider post-50049 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-western-painted-turtle project-fraser-valley-wetlands project-freshwater-turtles specific-species-western-painted-turtle\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" ><div class=\"blog-meta\"><\/div><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix standard-content'><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Post: A tale of two turtles\"><div class=\"av-heading-wrapper\"><h2 class='post-title entry-title'  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/a-tale-of-two-turtles\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent Link: A tale of two turtles\">A tale of two turtles<span class=\"post-format-icon minor-meta\"><\/span><\/a><\/h2><span class=\"blog-categories minor-meta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/category\/western-painted-turtle\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/fraser-valley-wetlands\/\" rel=\"tag\">Les zones humides de la vall\u00e9e Fraser<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/freshwater-turtles\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortues d'eau douce<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/species\/western-painted-turtle\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/header><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><div class=\"big-preview single-big\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/a-tale-of-two-turtles\/\"  title=\"WPTvsRES_Thumbnail\" ><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail.png\" class=\"wp-image-50058 avia-img-lazy-loading-50058 attachment-entry_without_sidebar size-entry_without_sidebar wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail.png 400w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail-180x180.png 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"entry-content\"  itemprop=\"text\" ><div class=\"read-more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/a-tale-of-two-turtles\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class='more-link-arrow avia-svg-icon avia-font-svg_entypo-fontello' data-av_svg_icon='right-open-big' data-av_iconset='svg_entypo-fontello'><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"15\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 15 32\" preserveaspectratio=\"xMidYMid meet\" role=\"graphics-symbol\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<path d=\"M0.416 27.84l11.456-11.84-11.456-11.904q-0.832-0.832 0-1.536 0.832-0.832 1.536 0l12.544 12.608q0.768 0.832 0 1.6l-12.544 12.608q-0.704 0.832-1.536 0-0.832-0.704 0-1.536z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><span class=\"post-meta-infos\"><time class=\"date-container minor-meta updated\"  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-07-02T09:04:49-05:00\" >juillet 2, 2025<\/time><span class=\"text-sep\">\/<\/span><span class=\"blog-author minor-meta\">par <span class=\"entry-author-link\"  itemprop=\"author\" ><span class=\"author\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/author\/jenna-kissel\/\" rel=\"author\">Jenna Kissel<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><div class='post_delimiter'><\/div><\/div><div class=\"post_author_timeline\"><\/div><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WPTvsRES_Thumbnail.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>Jenna Kissel<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/WPC_Frn-scaled.jpg<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>Jenna Kissel<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-07-02T09:04:49-05:00\" >2025-07-02 09:04:49<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-07-22 14:54:37<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>A tale of two turtles<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><article class=\"post-entry post-entry-type-standard post-entry-48090 post-loop-2 post-parity-even single-big with-slider post-48090 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-western-painted-turtle project-fraser-valley-wetlands project-freshwater-turtles specific-species-western-painted-turtle\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" ><div class=\"blog-meta\"><\/div><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix standard-content'><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Post: Turtles take the spotlight: recovery team wins award\"><div class=\"av-heading-wrapper\"><h2 class='post-title entry-title'  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/turtle-team-wins-award\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent Link: Turtles take the spotlight: recovery team wins award\">Turtles take the spotlight: recovery team wins award<span class=\"post-format-icon minor-meta\"><\/span><\/a><\/h2><span class=\"blog-categories minor-meta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/category\/western-painted-turtle\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/fraser-valley-wetlands\/\" rel=\"tag\">Les zones humides de la vall\u00e9e Fraser<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/freshwater-turtles\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortues d'eau douce<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/species\/western-painted-turtle\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/header><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><div class=\"big-preview single-big\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/turtle-team-wins-award\/\"  title=\"20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7 copy\" ><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy.jpeg\" class=\"wp-image-48098 avia-img-lazy-loading-48098 attachment-entry_without_sidebar size-entry_without_sidebar wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy-80x80.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy-12x12.jpeg 12w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy-36x36.jpeg 36w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy-180x180.jpeg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"entry-content\"  itemprop=\"text\" ><div class=\"read-more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/turtle-team-wins-award\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class='more-link-arrow avia-svg-icon avia-font-svg_entypo-fontello' data-av_svg_icon='right-open-big' data-av_iconset='svg_entypo-fontello'><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"15\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 15 32\" preserveaspectratio=\"xMidYMid meet\" role=\"graphics-symbol\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<path d=\"M0.416 27.84l11.456-11.84-11.456-11.904q-0.832-0.832 0-1.536 0.832-0.832 1.536 0l12.544 12.608q0.768 0.832 0 1.6l-12.544 12.608q-0.704 0.832-1.536 0-0.832-0.704 0-1.536z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><span class=\"post-meta-infos\"><time class=\"date-container minor-meta updated\"  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2024-09-23T13:59:34-05:00\" >septembre 23, 2024<\/time><span class=\"text-sep\">\/<\/span><span class=\"blog-author minor-meta\">par <span class=\"entry-author-link\"  itemprop=\"author\" ><span class=\"author\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/author\/wildlife-preservation-canada\/\" rel=\"author\">Conservation de la faune au Canada<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><div class='post_delimiter'><\/div><\/div><div class=\"post_author_timeline\"><\/div><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240924_WPT_SilverSalamanderAwardwithTurtle7-copy.jpeg<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>Conservation de la faune au Canada<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/WPC_Frn-scaled.jpg<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>Conservation de la faune au Canada<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2024-09-23T13:59:34-05:00\" >2024-09-23 13:59:34<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-07-22 14:55:55<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>Turtles take the spotlight: recovery team wins award<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><article class=\"post-entry post-entry-type-standard post-entry-47344 post-loop-3 post-parity-odd post-entry-last single-big with-slider post-47344 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-western-painted-turtle project-fraser-valley-wetlands project-freshwater-turtles specific-species-western-painted-turtle\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" ><div class=\"blog-meta\"><\/div><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix standard-content'><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Post: Saving turtles with a little help from our friends\"><div class=\"av-heading-wrapper\"><h2 class='post-title entry-title'  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/saving-turtles-with-a-little-help-from-our-friends\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" title=\"Permanent Link: Saving turtles with a little help from our friends\">Saving turtles with a little help from our friends<span class=\"post-format-icon minor-meta\"><\/span><\/a><\/h2><span class=\"blog-categories minor-meta\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/category\/western-painted-turtle\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/fraser-valley-wetlands\/\" rel=\"tag\">Les zones humides de la vall\u00e9e Fraser<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/project\/freshwater-turtles\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortues d'eau douce<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/species\/western-painted-turtle\/\" rel=\"tag\">Tortue peinte de l'Ouest<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/header><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><div class=\"big-preview single-big\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/saving-turtles-with-a-little-help-from-our-friends\/\"  title=\"w-featirejpg\" ><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-47353 avia-img-lazy-loading-47353 attachment-entry_without_sidebar size-entry_without_sidebar wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"entry-content\"  itemprop=\"text\" ><div class=\"read-more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/saving-turtles-with-a-little-help-from-our-friends\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class='more-link-arrow avia-svg-icon avia-font-svg_entypo-fontello' data-av_svg_icon='right-open-big' data-av_iconset='svg_entypo-fontello'><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"15\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 15 32\" preserveaspectratio=\"xMidYMid meet\" role=\"graphics-symbol\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<path d=\"M0.416 27.84l11.456-11.84-11.456-11.904q-0.832-0.832 0-1.536 0.832-0.832 1.536 0l12.544 12.608q0.768 0.832 0 1.6l-12.544 12.608q-0.704 0.832-1.536 0-0.832-0.704 0-1.536z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><span class=\"post-meta-infos\"><time class=\"date-container minor-meta updated\"  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2024-07-17T09:41:41-05:00\" >juillet 17, 2024<\/time><span class=\"text-sep\">\/<\/span><span class=\"blog-author minor-meta\">par <span class=\"entry-author-link\"  itemprop=\"author\" ><span class=\"author\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/fr\/blog\/author\/andrea-gielens\/\" rel=\"author\">Andrea Gielens<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><div class='post_delimiter'><\/div><\/div><div class=\"post_author_timeline\"><\/div><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/w-featirejpg.jpg<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>Andrea Gielens<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/WPC_Frn-scaled.jpg<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>Andrea Gielens<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2024-07-17T09:41:41-05:00\" >2024-07-17 09:41:41<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-07-22 14:56:05<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>Saving turtles with a little help from our friends<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-4sjd7tp-47e918fda7777106afb4cb98fc127787\">\n.avia-section.av-4sjd7tp-47e918fda7777106afb4cb98fc127787{\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/wildlifepreservation.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Western-painted-turtle-1024x384.png);\nbackground-position:0% 0%;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_5'  class='avia-section av-4sjd7tp-47e918fda7777106afb4cb98fc127787 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  need-your-help-wrapper avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch'><div class='container 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><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":53209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-events","project-freshwater-turtles","specific-species-western-painted-turtle"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Turtles play by their own rules - Wildlife Preservation Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wildlife Preservation Canada\u2019s mission is to save animal species at risk from extinction in Canada by providing direct, hands-on care.Learn more about\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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