It's turtle month! Find out how and why to get involved
We're celebrating Turtle Month in November, and right on cue we've already seen our first turtle on the new turtle camera installed at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop at Nuriootpa! It's an exciting sign that turtles are becoming more active as we head into the peak nesting season.
Turtles have been quietly looking after our waterways for millions of years, but today they're facing increasing pressure from predators, habitat loss and changing conditions. By reporting turtle sightings and helping us track local populations, the community can play a direct role in protecting these remarkable animals.
See it, report itEvery turtle sighting tells us something valuable! We're asking the community to report:
| Better data leads to better outcomes
Ways to report - it's never been easier
Even a single sighting can help identify important habitat and threats. |
Nesting season is underway
- Freshwater turtles typically nest from November through to January.
- Female turtles leave the water to lay their eggs, making them especially vulnerable to predators and road traffic during this period.
Protecting turtle nests
- In unprotected areas, foxes and cats can destroy up to 95% of freshwater turtle nests.
- To give turtles a better chance, we've gotten in early and installed floating Biohaven nesting islands and basking islands in local dams and waterways.
- Some of the locations include the Barossa, the Rocky River, and the Clare Valley
- These islands provide safer, predator-resistant places for female turtles to bask and lay their eggs.
- While foxes can swim, they generally prefer to keep their paws dry, making the islands a valuable deterrent.
More than nesting islands
- We've also installed floating basking islands.
- These allow turtles to climb out of the water, dry off and regulate their body temperature.
- Basking is an important part of staying healthy and active and for the females to successfully grow their eggs.
Why turtles matter
- Freshwater turtles are important ecosystem engineers.
- They help keep waterways healthy by recycling nutrients and consuming dead animal carcasses.
- By acting as nature's clean-up crew, they contribute to better water quality.
Turtles are declining
- Despite their tough shells and long lifespans, freshwater turtle populations are declining across South Australia.
- Major threats include fox and cat predation, habitat loss, reduced permanent water, road mortality and changing environmental conditions.
- Local observations suggest turtle sightings are becoming less common, highlighting the need for better data and conservation action.
Better data leads to better outcomes
- One of the biggest challenges is understanding exactly how severe population declines are and what is driving them.
- More data will help guide future conservation actions and inform South Australia's turtle management planning.
- Community observations play a critical role in building that knowledge.
TurtleSAT
- Community members can submit sightings through the free TurtleSAT app or at turtlesat.org.au.
- Drivers should keep an eye out for turtles crossing roads, particularly after rain and during nesting season.
- The information collected helps researchers better understand turtle populations and target conservation efforts where they're needed most.
