Hope for Wildlife saving turtles hit by cars
Summertime driving in the Maritimes often means looking out for deer. But one wildlife rehabilitation organization is urging drivers to keep an eye out for an animal that’s not so easy to spot: turtles.
While turtles are usually found near water, the warm summer months see the reptiles search for dry land to lay their eggs. That’s why Hope for Wildlife, a non-profit that began back in 1997, is currently rehabilitating 30 turtles who have been hit by cars.
Hope for Wildlife founder, Hope Swinimer, explained that warm gravel is just the right consistency for turtles to lay their eggs.
Swinimer is asking drivers to slow down on the road and keep an eye out for turtles laying eggs or crossing the street. She encourages anyone who comes across a turtle that has been hit by a car to call or bring them to Hope for Wildlife.
“It’s really amazing what they can heal from,” she noted, adding that turtles are very resilient. “They can live through a lot of trauma and our doctor is incredibly good at fixing them up.”
That job belongs to Dr. Hazel Eaglesome, a veterinarian with Hope for Wildlife. Her work begins by assessing the injuries to the turtle while determining if the turtle is both conscious and can move their limbs. Next, it’s on to the x-ray booth to identify any internal injuries.
“We try and make it as quick as possible for them because a lot of them this time of year are coming in with eggs and they want a place to lay them,” she said.
While the job can wear heavy on the heart, Eaglesome says she’s very glad to be helping rehabilitate injured animals.
“They fascinate me,” she noted. “I’m just thrilled to be working with them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.