Turtle ICU debuts at Sharbot Lake Farmers Market

Aug 07, 2014

Penny Vance, who calls herself simply “an individual who cares about turtles”, was at the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market on August 2 showing off an aid specially developed for assisting in the successful hatching of turtles' eggs. 

Vance, who lives in Tweed and cottages near Mountain Grove, is a member of the Quinte Field Naturalists and she had with her at the market a Turtle Incubation Care Unit, which she calls a Turtle ICU. The device is used to protect turtle eggs from predators. It is a simple wooden frame constructed with four pieces of 2 x 4, each roughly 1.5 feet in length, which have been screwed together to make a frame. Stapled onto the frame is a single piece of ¼ inch square metal screen. The frame is placed over a freshly laid nest of turtle eggs, mesh side up, and four one-foot-long ardox spikes, which are sold with the unit, are nailed down through the four corners of the frame to keep it in place.
The frame remains in place over the egg nest for roughly 10 days, protecting the eggs from skunks, racoons and other creatures that like to feast on them. After that time, once the smell of the nest has dissipated and the eggs are then safe from prey, the frame can be removed. Depending on the species of turtle, the eggs can take anywhere from 60-90 days to hatch and it is important that the frame be removed well before hatching time so that the young turtles do not become trapped.
The device was developed by some friends of Vance, the Wilkins, who arranged for staff from the Toronto Zoo to come to their home in Tweed to help them develop a snake hibernaculum and a beach for turtles to lay eggs. The idea for the ICU came about from that meeting.
Denise Wilkins then arranged for students in the environmental class at the local high school in Madoc to build the Turtle ICU devices, which the students are now are selling for $10 apiece. Funds raised from the sales go back to the school so that the students can continue building and selling the units.
Vance also had with her a copy of the Toronto Zoo booklet "Turtles of Ontario: A Stewardship Guide" which she and the students are also selling along with the ICU for an additional $2 per copy. The stewardship guide is helpful in identifying the turtles and determining how long it takes the eggs to hatch. Common turtles species found in this area include the blandings, painted, and snapping turtles. Due to the fact that most turtle species with the exception of the painted turtle are listed as either endangered, threatened or of special concern, and additionally that most turtle species do not begin reproducing until they are upwards of 20 years old, it is important that young turtles get a helpful start in the world. Anyone interested in purchasing a Turtle ICU can contact Penny Vance at 613-478-6229 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Vance said she would do her best to deliver the units and booklets personally to buyers. While the season for turtle egg laying is nearing its end, Vance said she is willing to take names for those interested in having a unit ready for next season.