Ancaster family’s attempt to save road-killed turtle was in vain. But the story wasn’t over for her eggs

As the saying goes, timing really is everything.

Just a few weeks ago, Ancaster resident Nancy Hurst happened upon the short documentary, Fix & Release," detailing the efforts of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre in Peterborough.

Little did she know her life and their important work would soon collide.

It was the evening of Sunday, June 5. Hurst and her daughter, Summer Thomas, were on their way home from a day in Long Point.

Hurst said as they were driving along Highway 6 near Caledonia, she was scouring the shoulder when she saw a snapping turtle lying upside-down near the intersection of Greens Road.

With the documentary still fresh in her mind, Hurst hollered for her daughter to stop the car and turn back around.

The 15-minute documentary, produced by CBC, takes viewers through the process of how the team works to save thousands of turtles that have been severely injured.

However, their job doesn't end with turtles that survive.

There is also value in female turtles who appear to be dead, as their eggs may still be inside of them. And through a delicate procedure, they can be harvested, incubated and hatched at the facility.

All it takes is a call to the centre from someone who has found a turtle - they take care of the rest.

When we got back, her shell had been cracked open, but I could see the eggs in there," said Hurst. But I was kind of ecstatic, because I thought maybe some of the eggs were still viable."

Hurst took out her phone, dialed the emergency line at the conservation centre and luckily, a volunteer answered. The pair were instructed to put the turtle in a bag and hang tight for details on getting the reptile to a partner veterinarian in the area.

A few minutes later, the mother-daughter duo were on their way to a facility in Rockton.

Hurst said once they arrived, the veterinarian swiftly got to work. She reached into the shell and was able to extract 16 eggs - all of which were still moist, which was a good sign.

She thought they'd all be viable," said Hurst. Even though she estimated the turtle had been dead for at least three days."

After they were rinsed and placed in vermiculite, the eggs were set to make their way to the conservation centre the next day, with the help of a network of volunteer drivers.

In general, the incubation period for turtle eggs can be between 60 and 90 days, depending on weather conditions. The eggs typically hatch in late summer or early fall, according to the centre's website.

Sue Carstairs, executive and medical director of the centre, told The Spectator that the more than a dozen eggs saved by Hurst are among the thousands they incubate and hatch each year.

And once the turtles are old enough, they'll be brought back to a wetland near where the mother was found, she added.

It's very rewarding to see that the eggs aren't wasted," said Carstairs. And we get to give them a head start in life."

However, Hurst would like to see more done to protect turtles in the region - especially as all eight native species in Ontario are considered at-risk.

She pointed to increased signage in potential turtle nesting areas - similar to those that dot Cootes Drive on the way into Dundas - as well as pathways that could help turtles cross safely.

We also need to educate people to slow down in the spring," said Hurst. We've cut through their nesting sites with our highways, so the least we could do is watch out for them."

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com