Long Point Turtle hatchery
The Long Point Turtle Hatchery is an open to the public “turtle daycare.”
Why do we rescue turtle eggs?
Mother turtles lay eggs in roadside nests because the gravel is an ideal incubator for her eggs. However, these roadside nests are vulnerable to raccoons, cars, and scorching asphalt—most baby turtles will die before reaching the water.
The Hatchery’s dedicated volunteers rescue eggs from dangerous roadside nests and bring them to the Long Point Turtle Hatchery, meaning thousands more baby turtles get a chance at life.
Last year, 31 volunteers rescued and released over 1,000 baby turtles.
How are the turtles cared for?
The rescued turtle eggs are monitored every few days for 6-8 weeks by a team of dedicated of volunteers. When the baby turtles finally hatch, they are the size of a toonie and weigh just 3 or 4 grams. The volunteers then valet them right to the water’s edge. Every turtle is released within 1km of its original nesting site.
What can you do?
Come visit the hatchery! It’s in the same building as the Marshview Patio & Bar at Long Point Eco Adventures (the gorgeous view over Turkey Point is another reason to stop in!).
The hatchery will be open in May from 12pm-7pm 7 days a week, with additional hours from 8am-1130am on the weekends.
For opening day announcements, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or join the Friends of the Long Point Biosphere Mailing List (sign up at the bottom of the page).
Volunteering
The team is always looking for more volunteers to help with patrols, monitoring and releases. If you’re interested, please fill out this volunteer form. You will hear from Lauren, the Biosphere’s volunteer coordinator, with orientation details shortly after.
Regenerating Long Point’s Turtle Population
Our team also helps adult turtles by building animal underpasses and nesting mounds. Read more about this work here.
Together, this work makes a meaningful difference to the overall turtle population at Long Point, helping them regenerate from habitat loss, road mortality, pesticides, and invasive species. Your gift sponsors turtle rescues.
