The Wood Turtle is listed as endangered by the federal government. Their forest and watercourse habitat has been systematically destroyed by sanctioned strip logging and development. The Nova Scotia provincial government stupidly put the protection of our natural wilderness areas; provincial parks and wilderness protected areas, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural resources who also manage the strip logging and strip mining, a clear conflict of interest. They even allow strip logging in wilderness protected areas! Thank goodness we still have responsible management of our national parks by the federal Environment Department and the good work of our NGOs that buy up private land to protect it for future generations. The department of the environment or whatever it is called in your part of the world should manage your wilderness areas and parks, and also be given the teeth to enforce infractions. Here in Nova Scotia we even permit strip logging during the woodland bird nesting season of May, June and July. Sigh! As is well said in Jurassic Park this place, our earth, needs our absence.

I found this Wood Turtle crossing a paved road. I waited until it had safely crossed the road by protecting it with my car, emergency signals flashing, until it had crossed into the grasses in the direction it was heading.  I wish it well.

Wood Turtle

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