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The Snapping Turtle is listed as a Species at Risk in Ontario. Although still widespread, the growing threats to this turtle means that populations are decreasing across the province. The science is clear about turtle declines, yet Ontario still allows a legal Snapping Turtle hunt. The government currently has a public comment period on the harvest, ending January 30th, 2017.
The Canadian Herpetological Society (CHS) is urging those concerned about Snapping Turtles to provide comments. Instead of changing harvest levels, which will still threaten the long-term viability of this species, we are asking for the harvest to be ended permanently. CHS will be submitting a letter to the government through the EBR website (details on how to do this will follow). The more submissions to the EBR on this very important matter the better, so let your colleagues know. If you feel this harvest should be ended based on the fact that the Snapping Turtle is an at-risk species and the available science shows that a turtle harvest is not sustainable, please take a few minutes to make your opinion known. Feel free to review the science in our letter and incorporate some of it into your response. You will also notice in our letter that CHS has concerns about the lack of science behind the Bullfrog harvest as well.
Original letters are best, but a sample letter follows:
EBR# 012-9170 and EBR# 012-9169. I am writing to request that the Snapping Turtle and Bullfrog be removed as Game Species under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Snapping Turtle are exceptionally susceptible to long-term population declines when adults and older juveniles are removed from the wild. Their late age of maturity, low egg and juvenile survival rates, and need for older animals in the population means that it can take many decades to replace adults lost from an area. Snapping Turtles already face exceptionally high adult mortality from human-caused threats, and to allow a federally and provincially listed Species At Risk to be harvested goes against the available science, and further threatens recovery efforts. Regarding the removal of the American Bullfrog as a Game Amphibian Species under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act: The Bullfrog Harvest is not supported by science, and the growing threats to this species make them susceptible to further declines in Ontario.
Feel free to use the sample letter, but try and personalize it as individual letters count for more than form letters. Change the beginning. Re-write a few sentences. Add a personal touch about why Snapping Turtles are important to you.
There are two current amendments on the EBR website where your input will be valuable. The same comments are relevant for both, though if you only have time for one, comment on link one. Follow the links below to be directed to the appropriate EBR website page. On the right side of the page, click "Submit Comment". This is where you fill in your contact details and your comment. An original comment, or information from the sample letter above can be cut and pasted into the comment box.
Link 1 - In the body of your comment for the link below, state that it is for "EBR# 012-9170"
Link 2 - In the body of your comment for the link below, state that it is for "EBR# 012-9169"
The following turtle recovery strategies and management plans have been posted on the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry for public consultation:
The documents will remain on the registry for a 60-day comment period ending May 28th, 2016. Comments on the proposed recovery documents can be submitted on the registry or e-mailed to SARAregistry@ec.gc.ca
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a deadly fungal pathogen that was introduced to Europe from Asia and has caused a drastic decline of the European Fire Salamander. If introduced into North American, this pathogen has the potential to cause widespread decline of our native salamander species. The U.S. has acted quickly to halt international and inter-state movement of over 200 types of salamanders due the threat of this fungus. A Canadian working group on Bsal including the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Environment Canada, the Canadian Herpetological Society, provincial governments and other partners has developed two Bsal fact sheets that provide background information and recommendations to help prevent the introduction and spread of this disease. These fact sheets, a Canadian risk assessment of Bsal, and several other related resources can be found on the Canadian Wildlife Disease Cooperative website. An international website, salamanderfungus.org, also provides excellent background information about Bsal.