Turtles are Wildlife Heroes
About 70% of fish and wildlife across Eastern North America depend on freshwater turtles to clean water, cycle nutrients, and spread seeds & biodiversity. However 75% of the world’s turtles are in jeopardy of becoming extinct and all of Canada’s are listed as Species at Risk.
Turtles Need Your Help
Turtles are a keystone species. They play an important role in keeping an ecosystem functioning. Turtles maintain the health of our wetlands by consuming the carcasses of dead fish and animals, which removes harmful bacteria; and they also eat plants and spread seeds to grow new fish nurseries, moose habitats and wetland areas. Turtles also have cultural and spiritual importance for some Indigenous cultures. However, all of Canada’s and 3/4 of the U.S.A’s and the world’s turtles are endangered of becoming extinct. It can take turtles up to 60 years for a turtle to replace themself once in nature.
Without turtles – our best cleaning crews and biodiversity agents – we would not be able to enjoy nature in the ways we can today.
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