Adopt a Turtle fundraiser to help build habitat
Adopt a Turtle four-month fundraiser in 2026, to help protect species-at-risk freshwater turtles in the area, runs until September 3
Fundraising drive for turtle habitat provides three levels of recognition for donors
Ontario’s eight freshwater turtle species are all at risk. A local four-month fundraising campaign is encouraging people to donate to help protect them.
The fundraising campaign is called Adopt a Turtle. It promotes donations to the Support the Turtles Protection Program to enhance wetland habitat for turtles. The campaign launched in May of 2026 and continues until Thursday, September 3, 2026 (the day of the annual hatchling release event at Morrison Dam Conservation Area east of Exeter).
There are three tiers of recognition for fundraising campaign supporters: 1) Hatchling Hero ($20 donation); Adopt a Turtle ($50); and Conservation Insider ($250 donation or higher). Donors at the upper levels receive recognition including a turtle-related gift package; a monthly email update following the progress of the turtle hatchlings; and more.
Rosalind Chang is Healthy Watersheds Coordinator with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). She said there is a tremendous amount of public interest in saving our turtle species and the Adopt a Turtle campaign is one of the ways people can help.
“This is a great way to make a real local difference with donations that help to create wetland habitat our turtles need,” she said. “We also want to thank the generous donors and make donating fun. That’s why we have lots of value-added items for each donation level.”
To donate now, or to learn more, visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation events web page at abca.ca. On that page, there is an event news post about the campaign.
You may also donate at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office at 71108 Morrison Line (two kilometres east of Exeter) or you may phone the office at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.
All of Ontario’s eight native turtle species can be found in the ABCA watershed area.
Turtles are important links in food webs and provide essential ecological services. Snapping turtles, for example, help to control aquatic vegetation and clean creeks and wetlands by eating algae and dead and decaying fish and other organisms. They also cycle nutrients and spread seeds which benefit other organisms. Learn more about our amazing turtle species on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation turtles web page.
PHOTO CAPTION: In this photo, we see baby Painted Turtles basking before being released back into the wild. All of Ontario’s eight turtle species are at risk and all of these species are found in Ausable Bayfield watersheds. A new four-month fundraising campaign is trying to raise money to help to build the habitat these turtle species need to survive. (Photo by Jory Mullen)