Article by: Alyson Brda, Office Administrator, CVWMA

 

Each year with the help of local students, community members, local organizations, and the CVWMA Staff, ‘Turtle Fence Work Bees’ are completed for our green shelled friends, the Western Painted Turtles. The conservation of this species in this area is aided by erecting fencing along the roadway that lines the wetlands here. Most locals will recall seeing this fence along West Creston Road each year and the purpose is to deter the turtles from crossing the busy road and putting themselves in danger. The turtles instinctively are in search of their ideal nesting habitat, and although there are safe locations available in and around this area to create a nest, some of which are designated ‘nest sites’ which were created for this purpose, some of the turtles will go searching across the road and get hurt or run over in the process. The CVWMA staff work each year with different volunteers and groups to put up the fence. This year the start of the work was done April 16th, with the help of students and instructors from the Castlegar Selkirk College. The students were eager and got loads of work done to get portions of the fence up this day along with the CVWMA staff. Additionally, 2 more Work Bees have been organized by Wildsight Creston Valley to complete more sections of fencing; one portion within the CVWMA and another farther south of our area.  I feel it is important to acknowledge the work, passion and support that members of the community have for all different initiatives in our valley, and how much this matters in our world today. Along with the benefits of the Turtles in this example, I see work experience and skills gained for students, knowledge built for locals, strong muscles built, and relationships developed. As a past Selkirk student myself, I really enjoy meeting and working with the students each year and seeing how much can be accomplished and learned in a short amount of time.  A huge Thank You to everyone involved in these work bees! This work could not be accomplished without passionate, generous people that care about the conservation and wellbeing of these special resident reptiles!

Please slow down if you are travelling in this area and keep your eyes peeled for any turtles that may slip past the fence and make it onto the road during this time of year. Please don't pick them up - give them space and leave them to do their important turtle work.