“I always take the back roads, as opposed to the main highway, because it’s nicer and less stressful,” he says. “It had been hot and humid for a few days, and I knew that in the section I was going through, there were going to be a lot of turtles on the move, so I kept my eyes open.”

Injured turtles are a common sight along country roads in Ontario, Canada. Blake Correia encourages people to safely stop on the side of the road if they see one that is injured. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre can often help.

He knew what to look for because the previous summer, while working at Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP) near Toronto, he had been introduced to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre by his colleague, Jory Mullen, the park’s ecosystems scientist.

Jory is also a wildlife rehabilitator outside of work. She takes in injured wildlife, including animals found in RNUP, and cares for them using her own supplies and time.

So when Blake spotted the injured snapping turtle on the side of the road about 30 minutes into his drive, he knew exactly what to do. He carefully put the turtle in a box inside his car and called the Centre, letting them know he would swing by with it.

“A half hour later, the centre called me back, and asked if I could stop and pick up another turtle that a woman had found,” he says. “Interestingly enough, she wanted to meet at a Parks Canada lock station in Smith Falls, along the famed Rideau Canal.”

Blake was happy to help. There was just a small problem: with a second turtle to deal with, he needed to make sure his hands were clean to prevent any cross-contamination. He didn’t have any hand sanitizer and his one pair of gloves were already used. He stopped at a few stores he saw along the way.

“But with the COVID situation, I couldn’t find any at all! I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.”

When he arrived at the locks, he identified himself as a Parks Canada employee to the locks operator, John, who gave him a pair of gloves and a small bottle of sanitizer.

“With the gloves and properly sterilized, I was able to examine the two turtles more closely. It turned out that both were female, and based on my experience from last summer, I was pretty sure they were carrying eggs,” he says.

That’s when he called Jory.

“I knew she could tell me what to do to make sure the turtles and their eggs had a better chance at survival,” he says.

Blake was able to maintain the right temperature and make sure the turtles didn’t move during the drive to the centre, ensuring that the eggs had a good chance of survival.

As Blake continued the drive to the Centre, located in Peterborough, about halfway between Ottawa and Toronto, he would pick up another four injured turtles, these one painted turtles, from the side of the road. He got all six safe to the Centre, and he hopes they were able to be returned to nature safely.

There are eight different species of turtles in the province of Ontario, and seven of them are considered species at risk.

The biggest threats to their survival is roads and habitat loss. Estimates show only about 2 percent of baby turtles make it to adulthood. That’s why Blake encourages people to stop on the side of the road if they see one that is injured.

“I saw lots of turtles on the side of the road, but most of them were dead. The centre is equipped to do surgery – using glue and zip ties. Even if a turtle might look dead, the people who work and volunteer there are really amazing at putting them back together,” Blake says.

As a youth ambassador for Parks Canada, Blake’s role is to inspire Canadian youth from all backgrounds to head outdoors and experience the rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage that Canada has to offer.

“I’m really happy with my experience at Parks Canada because its provided me with opportunities that’s more than just a job. I’ve already worked with external partners who have provided a lot of insights. It’s gratifying work, and those experiences are what allowed me be able to do my part, even if small, for the environment … and for those turtles.”