Turtle S.H.E.L.L. Tortue

Thank You to Tara Newton, Alana Clark, Rockland District High School, Gabi Mueller & Genevieve Chartrand - Friend's of Turtle S.H.E.L.L. Tortue who volunteer their time and effort in the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

June 21, 2005: LUCKY - A female Blanding's turtle of about 20 years old arrived at the shelter with minor abrasions on her shell. She was also having a hard time using her back legs and was limping.

Tissue glue was applied to the abrasions once they were cleaned. She then received a course of visible laser every day to the back legs. She got along with Miss Determination, sharing the pool and the walks in the centre. She stopped limping and developed a very good appetite.

October 22, 2004: PUDGY - A young female Snapping turtle came to the shelter from the Embrun area having escaped being flushed down the toilet by an adolescent. She arrived weighing 66 grams and was released at 608.

October 21, 2004 - In Kars, a group of Snapping turtle hatchlings were found in leaves. Photography by John Anjo.

They were released on July 2, 2005.

September 22, 2004 - SWEETIE - A young female Snapping turtle came to the shelter bleeding through the mouth. She had been purposely hit by a car. Antibiotics were administered for fifteen days and now she is doing very well. Since her arrival, she has gained 600 grams and has become a very gentle 'sweetie.' She loves to be petted, as you can see below.

SWEETIE with Genevieve Chartrand. Photo by Michele Andre-St.Cyr

On April 21, 2005, SWEETIE's fiberglass patch came off.

SWEETIE was released on July 3, 2005. Photography by Guy Belle-Isle.

September 26, 2004 - MISS DETERMINATION - A female Painted turtle found on the middle of Highway 17 in Rockland. For the first day, she suffered extensive bleeding as well as internal bleeding. After ten days of antibiotics, she is doing fine. MISS DETERMINATION is the new queen of the centre. She has the pool and goes in and out as she wishes.

The fiberglass patch came off 9 months after its application. Photo by Genevieve Chartrand

On July 2, 2005 Miss Determination was released in the Ottawa River

June 27, 2004 - PEEK-A-BOO - We received a young female adult turtle that had been run over by a bicycle. She could not bring her head out and had many internal injuries. She had all the intensive care that she needed and was under the supervision of the vet. She was able to walk for short distance and could only be in shallow water because of her injuries. She ate only blood worms and turtle pellet food. She was recovering slowly and well until Mother Nature decided on November 4, 2004 that it was enough.

September 20, 2003 - MIKI was brought to the centre after suffering extensive injuries to his shell after being struck by a car. He underwent 2 hours of treatment and repair and will be released next spring. MIKI is a male Snapping turtle - weighing in at 15lbs and is 13.5 inches long by 12.5 inches wide.

MIKI's diet consists of 3" fresh chicken strips and some leafy greens. He refuses to eat fish, minnows and crickets. MIKI will spend the winter in his new home at the rehab centre where we hope to release him to his habitat in the spring of 2004.

This photo below shows the repair that was made to MIKI's shell and plastron using fiberglass.

On June 21, 2004 - MIKI was released back into the Raisin River in Cornwall, Ontario.

On September 6th 2003, an exception was made. We received a Red-footed Tortoise which had been neglected by its owner and was found in an Ottawa back yard - motionless! Its front legs had been chewed off by a raccoon. We named this precious gem "L.J Silver". L.J has received many laser treatments to its injuries and has since made a complete recovery. We are currently seeking expert advice for ideas of temporary prosthesis anyone interested in sharing ideas are welcome to email us at motherturtle@turtleshelltortue.org

L.J is doing very well. It grew from 350 grams to 700 grams and it walks very well now. Amazing how it can adapt.

MINI - a Common Map turtle, who was named by a 4 year old boy, was brought to us on June 30, 2003 after suffering extensive shell damage. Dr. Roberto Briones performed 100 minutes of extensive surgery to repair her crushed shell.

After 100 long minutes of extensive surgery performed by Dr. Roberto Briones, MINI slowly awakes.

She required 6 different patches of fiberglass and epoxy to mend her separating plastron. One large application of fiberglass with epoxy covered the 6 smaller patches. MINI is now doing very well!

In the picture below taken in December 2003 we can see that MINI's injuries are doing very well.

On July 28th 2004 - MINI the Map Turtle was released on the north side causeway between Bacchus I. and
mainland, Upper Rideau L., S. Elmsley Twp., Leeds & Grenville Co, Ont.
Present: M. Rankin, B. Bower Overcast, warm, no wind. Heavily weeded
shallow bay of large warm water lake.

On June 21st 2003 - FEISTY - A young adult female painted turtle was struck by a car. It had visible laser treatment and was repaired with epoxy and fiberglass which eventually fell off clean after a few months - Success! It originally had a limp but since treatment has been very well. It will be release in spring 2004.

Release of "Toonie" at Petrie Island in Spring of 2003. Toonie came to us from a little boy who while out walking with his parents came across him in the fall months of 2002.

On November 13th 2002 - 16 hatchlings were found at Clayton Lake by Mrs. Irene Reid. 33 eggs were found she removed a rock near her back door. 17 of the hatchlings were frozen; one woke up 24 hours later, another 48 hours later. Two had broken beaks, three had infected yolks. The surviving hatchlings were rehabilitated during the winter months and released the following Spring of 2003.