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Shell-E-Brate highlighting western painted turtle habitat loss in Creston Valley

Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area hosting fun-filled educational events May 29 and 30 to highlight western painted turtle...
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Dead painted turtle hatchlings entangled in the roots of spotted knapweed.

The western painted turtle has been around for 15 million years and is Canada’s only native freshwater turtle species. Their numbers are being impacted due to habitat loss.

“The western painted turtle is a long-lived species that requires different types of habitats to bask, forage, lay eggs, and overwinter,” said Leigh Anne Isaac, a senior biologist with Cranbrook’s Vast Resource Solutions. “When one of these habitats is degraded, it has long-lasting impacts on the population. For example, invasive plants are quick to colonize the loose gravel substrates near wetlands where females lay their eggs. In doing so, these non-native plants choke out potential nesting sites and their roots have been shown to grow through the developing eggs.”

The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area will be hosting fun-filled and educational events May 29 and 30 to highlight this majestic animal.

On Friday, the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee, CVWMA and Vast are teaming up to restore vulnerable nesting sites by pulling invasive plant species and reseeding with non-invasive grass seed. The organizations are calling for volunteers to come out to the Wildlife Interpretation Centre from 1-4 p.m. to learn about painted turtles and remove invasive plants from known nesting habitat. Isaac and the Vast turtle crew will be giving a free public presentation that night from 7-8 p.m. at the Wildlife Interpretation Centre.

On Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the CVWMA is hosting a family friendly day of crafts, games and activities to Shell-E-Brate the western painted turtle. Do your part to help the western painted turtle stick around for another 15 million years!

—CENTRAL KOOTENAY INVASIVE PLANT COMMITTEE