WITH the change of seasons, turtles are on the move and may be crossing roads or looking for places to nest, wildlife advocates say.
“If you see a turtle nesting or find a recent nest, please make contact so we can protect the nest from foxes,” Cohuna Neighbourhood House’s Tanya Black said.
“We have nest protection kits at the neighbourhood house (contact 5456 4666/0428 487 823) or you can get in touch with Turtles Australia on 0405 530 372.
“Be aware of turtles on the roads. When it rains, the soil is softened making it easier for hatchlings to make their way from the nest to the creek.”
Turtles Australia founder Graham Stockfeld said freshwater turtle numbers were dramatically declining and the longnecked species in particular was in trouble.
“Not only are foxes predating the species, but they are highly mobile, which leads them onto roads and being killed by cars,” he said.
Mr Stockfeld said Turtles Australia was unlikely to be able to make it to Gunbower Island for its annual Melbourne Cup nest protection weekend this year, but encouraged anyone with questions to get in touch.
“If people have a turtle nesting, they can contact us for advice any time,” he said.
“If they’re going to protect a nest, they need to get onto it straight away or the foxes will beat them.”
Mr Stockfeld said coming into spring time, it was breeding season for eastern long necks and Murray River turtles.
“They’re on the move between the ephemeral water bodies and the permanent water, where they spend the winter,” he said.
“If people see one on the road, as long as it’s safe to help, move it in the direction it’s heading.”
He said at Richardson’s Lagoon, south of Gunbower, which had been dry for well over a year, there had been sightings of turtles moving back from the Murray and nesting.
Mr Stockfeld encouraged anyone who sights a turtle to record it on the turtleSAT.org.au website.
