Stewardship of the Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera)

In 2005, Scott Gillingwater authored the guide, Stewardship of the Spiny Softshell Turtle. This guide is targeted toward landowners with property next to turtle habitat, and also to anyone with an interest in turtles. The guide is beautifully illustrated with amazing photos from Scott’s personal collection. Readers will find a wonderful volume of never before published information about the appearance and behaviour of these turtles, threats to their survival, and actions to help with their recovery.

The threatened spiny softshell turtle is the only freshwater turtle in Canada to have a pliable, leathery shell and long, snorkel-like snout. This mainly aquatic species is timid and will avoid detection by quickly slipping into the water from basking sites along rivers, creeks and lakes. The softshell turtle occurs in southern Ontario and Quebec, where it has a very limited distribution. Due to the scarcity and shy behaviour of this species, if is common for landowners and land users to never see a softshell turtle, even when it lives nearby.

This 56-page guide provides a look into the natural history of this "at risk" native reptile, and explains how its unique adaptations have helped it to survive for millions of years.

Copies are available from the .

Cette guide est aussi disponible en français.