Turtle concerns

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It may not look like it outside, but in just a few months turtles will be crossing the busy highway along Cootes Paradise. Each year dozens of those turtles, some of them endangered, are killed by cars.

According to a study by the Royal Botanical Gardens, 93 turtles were killed by cars driving along Cootes Drive last year. In the last 30 years, the number of turtles in the area has been cut in half.

Future measures include low-lying curved barriers that should do a better job keeping the turtles off the road than the current fencing. Increased signage with lights might also be implemented, but experts believe the best solution is to have the turtles not cross at all, and that starts with the water.

Tys Theysmeyer from the Royal Botanical Gardens says that by improving the wastewater treatment plant you could transform the big block of Cootes Paradise into a much friendlier place which would keep the turtles more in that position instead of a position where they cross the road.

Water issues like this are being addressed by the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan and are expected to be completed by 2020. Which is good news for turtles, and those who want to keep them around.