Cases of freeze-dried freshwater turtles at the northern limit of their ranges in southern Ontario

Abstract

Turtles in northern latitudes are at the limit of their ranges and display various strategies for surviving the winter, including moving under the ice and out of water. Anthropogenic disturbances are often at the root of local habitat changes that can cause turtles to move from underwater refugia onto land, sometimes resulting in freezing and death. Turtles may also leave the water under natural freeze–thaw cycles, with early exits potentially maladaptive and lethal. We document cases of freshwater turtles freezing out of water at all life stages. We give a brief description of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of freeze-dried carcasses and highlight some of the climatic challenges facing overwintering turtles in southern Ontario.