GBA 2020 - Fall Update

www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Fall 2020 technical, with the right incubating equipment, temperatures and constant monitoring, and requires proper permits,” said Burke. Road surveys have continued throughout the summer to record all snake and additional turtle observations. This information may identify wildlife crossing hotspots and inform future mitigation ideas. “We’ve recorded over 300 snake and non-nesting turtle observations so far this summer. There have been very few deceased turtles on the road. People have been very vigilant and are moving turtles off the road,” said Burke. Another significant project component has been the incorporation of Anishinaabek traditional knowledge into both the project as a whole and daily work. An Anishinaabek ceremony was held at the first turtle release to recognize the safe return of all the turtles to the wetlands. Through the teachings of Sherrill Judge, Maawaanji’iwe (brings people together) manager with GBBR, and Gracie Crafts, summer student and member of Wasauksing First Nation, Biosphere staff incorporate an asemma (tobacco) offering into daily road surveys. This is meant to be a step towards a “two-eyed seeing” cultural approach to conservation work that incorporates both Indigenous and western scientific ways of learning and sharing knowledge. “By offering asemma, we acknowledge and provide thanks to creation for the knowledge we gain. In return we promise that we will use this knowledge for the benefit of the land,” said Judge. “Turtles hold a special place within Anishinaabek culture. In our creation stories, the continent that settlers call North America was formed on the back of Turtle. This is why many Indigenous peoples refer to this land as Turtle Island.” This project and other conservation efforts under CNPP will continue next spring and summer. Biosphere staff plan to have a larger role for the public in the future and continue to encourage reporting of all wildlife sightings to the Georgian Bay Biosphere Project within the iNaturalist app on personal devices. Turtle Trauma Kits have been made available for sale on the Biosphere’s website (gbbr.ca/shop ). Kits are $20 and contain everything that’s needed to handle injured turtles on roadways. A new Turtles on Roads guide has also been created to assist people who want to help. Copies are available for free download on gbbr.ca or can be picked up at the Biosphere office at 11 James Street in Parry Sound. ≥ How the various human engineered influences in the system are managed and coordinated and what improvements could be made to better mitigate extreme high and low water levels This symposium will go beyond basic explanations of water levels in the Great Lakes, and instead delve deeper into specific issues that need to be resolved, in order to better address mitigation of extreme high and low water levels, to the extent that adjustments at the various control points can make a difference. If you are interested in these topics, please sign up [here – https://georgianbay.ca/ water-levels-symposium-2020/ ] to register for this symposium. Source: US Army of Engineers, Detroit District Continued from page 2 A nesting snapping turtle observed on a road survey. A young milksnake on Skerryvore Community Road.