Main Street Myrtle returns home after 8 months at Hope for Wildlife
After being in the care of Hope for Wildlife for 245 days, Main Street Myrtle is set to head home to mark World Turtle Day.
Her name originates from her history of crossing Main Street in Dartmouth. Some may recognize her from when she first became famous after backing up a nearby Tim Hortons drive-thru.
Back in September 2021, the beloved snapping turtle was run over by a vehicle while attempting to cross the intersection of Main Street and Forest Hills Parkway in Dartmouth.
As a result, she suffered fractures to her shell and healed at the facility.
However, Myrtle's strength through her injuries didn't end there.
Upon reviewing her X-ray, staff at Hope for Wildlife learned the turtle swallowed an entire fish hook and leader. Luckily, she was able to digest the hook herself a few months later.
Her time spent at the facility happened to fall into a turtle's hibernation season, but because Myrtle needed to heal from her injuries, she was placed in a warm and humid room to keep her awake.
On Monday, which was World Turtle Day, Myrtle and staff members made their way to her home, Topsail Lake.
"If she's happy with the spot, she'll go into the water," said Clarence Stevens of Nova Scotia Turtle Patrol.
Main Street Myrtle swam into the water shortly after being placed nearby.
"She has made a full recovery and today was her release day to coincide with World Turtle Day," said Amy Honey of Hope for Wildlife.
Officials say they added gravel close to the area to prevent her from travelling towards the road when it's time to lay any eggs -- a reason why she has a record exploring the roads.
World Turtle Day was created as an annual observance to celebrate and protect the species, along with their global disappearing habitats.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Six Canadian children repatriated from detention in Syria, Global Affairs Canada says
The Global Affairs Department says six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.