Most of us have seen road signs warning of turtle crossings, but now members of Curve Lake First Nation have signs that include their own dialect.

The signs have been installed at Curve Lake First Nation as part of a project funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, in partnership with Otonabee Conservation and Curve Lake First Nation, to raise awareness of turtle (mikinaak) conservation.

The signs include the phase “Turtle Crossing” in English and “Mikinaak Aazhga Aatigong” in Michi Saagig, the local dialect of Anishnabemowin.

“Installing signs in areas where mikinaak have been observed crossing the roads is a simple way to remind residents and visitors to Curve Lake First Nation to be aware and take steps to avoid turtles when driving,” says Lorenzo Whetung, a member of Curve Lake First Nation who initiated the project.

Elders from Curve Lake First Nation worked together to translate the sign, with graphics for the sign provided by the Toronto Zoo Turtle Island Conservation Program.

“There are eight species of turtles in Ontario, all of which are listed as species at risk by Environment and Climate Change Canada,” explains Otonabee Conservation watershed management program manager Meredith Carter. “Reducing road mortality is an important step in the conservation and protection these important species.”

Mikinaak nesting season is from the end of May to early July. Females are vulnerable to collisions with vehicles during this time as they travel to and from nesting sites, which often requires crossing roads.

Mikinaak hatch and dig themselves out of their nest chambers from August to October and will then move to water, which may also require crossing roads — so drivers should be aware of turtles during these times as well as late spring and early summer.

Staff from the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre remind everyone that, if you do stop to assist a mikinaak crossing the road, do so safely. Make sure you are safe from other vehicles and be sure to wash your hands after touching a turtle, as they can carry salmonella bacteria.

If you are helping a snapping turtle, only lift it from the rear end of the shell since they can bite. Never lift any mikinaak by the tail.

It is also critical to help the turtle continue in the direction it was originally heading.

This story has been updated to correct a misspelling of mikinaak in the original media release.

Detective Constable Stacey Rutherford has retired after 30 years with the Peterborough Police Service.

Peterborough police made the announcement on social media on Thursday (June 25).

Congratulations & all the very best to Cst. Stacey Rutherford who retired today after a 30 year career with our Service! Cst. Rutherford achieved many significant milestones in her career including being one of our Service's first Canine handlers! #Youwillbemissed! -LG pic.twitter.com/puYpij41Cw

— Peterborough Police (@PtboPolice) June 25, 2020

Rutherford began working with the police as a special constable in 1990, working at the provincial and superior courts, and was hired as an officer the following year.

In 1997, she became one of the first handlers (and the first female handler) of the service’s newly formed canine unit.

She worked with police service dog Max, who won a gold medal for narcotics detection in the Canadian Law Enforcement Games in Guelph in 1997. In addition to finding illegal drugs, Rutherford and Max helped apprehend criminals, recover stolen property, and more (Max retired in 2005 and passed away in 2008).

Rutherford became a detective constable in 2006 and worked in the sex offence unit of the criminal investigation bureau. In 2009, she began investigating online child sexual abuse and developed the service’s internet child exploitation unit.

She received the prestigious OPP “Accolade Award for Team Achievement” for her work in the Robert McGregor homicide investigation (the Lakefield resident was convicted in 2015 of killing his ex-girlfriend Joanne MacKenzie, but was subsequently granted a new trial).

In 2019, Rutherford was nominated for Peterborough photographer Heather Doughty’s “Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project” and spoke about her career as a female police officer.

“The competition in this world for women never ends, and policing isn’t any different,” she writes in her profile. “I believe that the biggest hurdle for females is that you are always being tested in this job, and you have to continually fight to prove yourself.”

“What I would tell women who want to become police officers is that you have (to have) thick skin, and be able to take it as well as you dish it out,” she adds. “It is a mentally tough job and you need to have a warrior mindset every day.”

As an example, Rutherford shares an anecdote of when she had an opportunity to become the Peterborough Police Service’s first female canine handler. At first, the sergeant in charge of the unit didn’t believe she could do the job, saying “there will never be a woman on my unit.”

“My first reaction to that was, ‘Oh ya, watch me!’,” she writes. “Not only did I get that 80-pound bag over the six-foot fence I went on to get 99.5 out of 100 on the fitness test … take that!”

“Once I showed him that I could do the job without complaint, I earned this staunch former military man’s respect. We went on to have a great working relationship and a friendship that has lasted to this day.”

Rutherford admits that investigating online child sexual abuse changed her forever.

“The images sear your mind and scar your soul,” she writes. “I am not the person I used to be but, during my time conducting those investigations, children were saved from further abuse and that’s the ultimate win.”

But she says she has had some amazing experiences in her job.

“From fantastic victories with police service dog Max, to watching a bank robbery happen and apprehending the suspects as they fled, to working with provincial and international police agencies to rescue children that were being sexually abused on line, it has been a good go,” she concludes. “I simply wouldn’t change it for anything!”

In honour of his 100th birthday this fall, Guy Aiello is walking the distance of a marathon in July to raise funds for equipment and technology at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

A long-time supporter of the hospital, Aiello will begin his marathon walk of 42.2 kilometres on Canada Day, walking 1.8 kilometres every day except Sundays throughout July.

He’s already an avid walker, which may help explain his excellent physical condition at 99 years of age.

According to a media release from the PRHC Foundation on Thursday (June 25) announcing the marathon, Aiello has been a PRHC Foundation donor and former hospital volunteer for almost 30 years.

He wants to do “something challenging and unforgettable — something that not only reflects his personal determination, but inspires others to support their regional hospital through the spirit of philanthropy” before turning 100 this fall.

“We are grateful to Guy for his ongoing support of our hospital,” says PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway. “As a donor, and now by fundraising through his walking challenge, he’s helping make sure PRHC’s doctors, nurses and staff have access to the very best tools and technology that support innovative and compassionate care for patients from across our region.”

Heighway adds the money raised through Aiello’s initiative will be used to fund the hospital’s most critical priorities, helping to transform patient care.

“There are significant investments needed to fund the technological advancements and essential medical equipment required to support world-class patient care,” she says.

If you want to help Aiello meet his goal, you can donate online at prhcfoundation.ca or over the phone at 705-876-5000.

How would you react if you saw a water snake swimming alongside you in open water? Would you shriek in alarm and scramble to shore, or marvel at the snake’s athleticism?

Canadians biggest fear in 2015 was of snakes, beating out things like heights and public speaking according to a fundraising initiative launched by the Canadian Cancer society called the Fearless Challenge.

It found that 40 per cent of all Canadians were afraid of snakes.

But why? Many of us know that some of our fears are irrational and like many things they persist if left unchallenged.

“In Ontario, there is no need to fear our snakes for the same reason that someone in, let’s say Australia or India, might fear snakes,” says Rachel Dillon, who recently completed a Masters of Science in environmental and life sciences at Trent University. “We only have one venomous species of snake and our other 16 species of snake are harmless to humans.”

In other words, the risk of harm from snakes in Ontario is very low. The massasauga rattlesnake is the only venomous species in the province, and their population is considered at risk both provincially and federally. There have only been two recorded deaths caused by a massasauga rattlesnake bite in the province and neither of them occurred in the last 50 years, according to the Government of Ontario.

Knowing this helps put the level of risk snakes present in Ontario into perspective, something that’s commonly part of overcoming fears. While these steps might not help everyone, these three things helped me overcome my fear of snakes.

1. Expose yourself to snakes in a safe and supportive environment

For me, this meant interacting with a milk snake at Science North in Sudbury. I first watched another person holding the snake from a distance. Then, I was able to get closer to the snake and eventually touch her. (Snakes aren’t slimy, by the way; they’re scaly.)

Next, I worked up my courage to allow the snake to slither onto me until I was comfortable holding her. If you are afraid of snakes but want your kids to be comfortable with them, I recommend allowing them to interact with snakes in a safe and supervised environment.

While the Indian River Reptile Zoo is not currently allowing visitors into their snake exhibits due to COVID-19, this is a welcoming local spot to go with your family to see snakes in a fun, non-threatening way. In the meantime, you can support Indian River Reptile Zoo by enjoying the drive-through dinosaur park.

2. Learn more about snakes

Snakes, including massasauga rattlesnakes, are crucial to healthy ecosystems because they help control rodent populations that can otherwise damage crops and spread disease.

Snakes also serve as important food sources for other predators like hawks and foxes.

Learning how to identify the different species that we have in Ontario, including the massasauga rattlesnake, can help you develop a respect and appreciation for these reptiles. You may even start to say they’re cool!

You can learn more about the snakes of Ontario through the online Reptile and Amphibian Atlas on Ontario Nature’s website.

Did you know the eastern hog-nosed snake, which is listed as threatened in Ontario, can grow up to one metre long? It has a unique upturned or “hog-nosed” snout and can flatten out its neck to look like a cobra when it feels threatened.

While this display may appear terrifying to some, this non-venomous snake does it all for show. If you do get bitten by a non-venomous snake, wash the bite area with soap and water, check your immunization status, and get a tetanus shot if you are not up to date.

3. Dress and act responsibly to avoid snake bites

When out in natural areas hiking or camping, always wear sturdy closed-toed footwear and long pants. Be sure to stay on maintained trails as this will help minimize the chances that you’ll encounter snakes.

If you do encounter a snake, Dillon reminds us that “just like all wild animals, we should respect snakes and give them their space.”

Now that you understand the things that helped me overcome my fear of snakes, let’s learn a little more about Ontario’s only venomous snake species.

The massasauga rattlesnake is a threatened species in Ontario

The massasauga rattlesnake is a thick-bodied snake that grows 50 to 70 centimetres (19 to 27 inches) long and has a rattle at the end of its tail. Its head is triangular shaped and it has a grey to dark brown body with darker brown splotches down its back and sides. It is the only Ontario snake whose eyes contain a vertical pupil, similar to the eyes of a cat.

This unique snake has two known populations within the province. They can be found near Georgian Bay and the Bruce Peninsula in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, and in the Carolinian region near Windsor.

Massasaugas were once more widespread in Ontario but persecution by humans, road mortality, and loss of habitat have reduced their numbers. Eight other species of snake are considered at risk in Ontario, having faced similar threats to their survival.

VIDEO: The Science in Saving the Massasauga Rattlesnake

Massasaugas are shy and prefer to avoid humans. If scared, the snake may shake its tail, which makes a distinct rattling sound. It does this to ward off potential predators, so if you do encounter one and hear the rattle, give the snake some space.

If you get too close and ignore the rattle, a massasauga may bite. Ontario Poison Control recommends that you remain calm if you are bitten by a massasauga rattlesnake as they don’t always release their venom. It’s best to call 911 and ask for an ambulance to the hospital as antivenom medicine is available in Ontario.

Keep in mind that the species is protected by the Ontario Endangered Species Act and the Canadian Species At Risk Act and it is illegal to harm or kill them.

Snakes are important for a healthy ecosystem

Of Ontario’s 17 species of snakes, nine of them are considered at risk of extinction.

The next time you see a snake, remember that it is performing an important role by eating rodents and keeping rodent populations in check.

Snakes are important for a healthy ecosystem and it is always best to let them be.

Please note: the steps above should not be taken in place of medical or psychological advice. These are meant to help overcome surface-level fears and should be explored on that basis.

He’s smarter than the average bear.

A bear in Haliburton has developed an “interesting talent” of opening unlocked car doors, according to the Haliburton OPP.

On Tuesday night (June 23) around 10 p.m., police were called to investigate car entries in the area of Kennaway Road and Dudley Road in Haliburton.

The investigation revealed a bear had been entering the vehicles. Officers spoke to residents in the area and discovered a bear had opened the doors of more than 10 vehicles over the previous nights, presumably looking for food.

Many of the vehicles entered by the bear were significantly damaged.

Police are asking residents to keep their car doors locked and make certain there is nothing inside their vehicles that could be food for a hungry bear.

Environment Canada has confirmed that a tornado touched down on Sturgeon Lake north of Lindsay in Kawartha Lakes on Tuesday afternoon (June 23).

Several people captured the tornado in photos and video as it moved along Sturgeon Point, causing damage along the shoreline. Country musician Madison Kozak, a Lindsay native, said on Twitter the tornado tore the roof off of her family’s boathouse.

“Videos and pictures via social media received by the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre confirm a tornado occurred today at Sturgeon Lake around 3:00 pm EDT, and tracked north through Sturgeon Point and likely north beyond this,” Environment Canada wrote on its weather summaries page.

“Information regarding a track and a rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale will be forthcoming later when more information is gathered and analysis can be done in consultation with the Northern Tornadoes Project.”

The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the intensity of tornadoes based on the damage they cause.

The scale runs from EFO (winds of 105 to 137 kilometres per hour causing minor damage) to EF5 (winds over 322 kilometres per hour causing incredible damage).

Environment Canada is asking residents to send videos, photos, or damage reports of the tornado to ONstorm@canada.ca.

The agency did not issue a tornado watch or warning on Tuesday as there were no indications a tornado could form in the area.

This shot was taken from our yard on Pleasant Point. Sturgeon Point is straight across. Hope everyone is safe! pic.twitter.com/HrnRcLMtGJ

— Amy Reeds (@amy_reeds) June 24, 2020