I am appealing to the public to help protect the painted turtles in light of city council recently voting to restock McGuire Lake. They have modified the program by extending the dock, making it baitless hooks and putting up signage in an attempt to stop the by-catch of the turtles. It is illegal to harm, harass or kill a species at risk. If you are in the vicinity of McGuire Lake and witness kids fishing, please ensure that they are with an adult, have barbless, baitless hooks and are not harming or harassing the turtles. In a perfect world we could count on municipal and provincial governments to protect our vulnerable wildlife – in this case they are the very ones promoting a program with taxpayers’ money that has the potential to do the opposite. They are stocking a ‘turtle pond’ and I am concerned about the viability of the hatched baby turtles being eaten by the trout, along with the extra pressure put on their food source besides them getting hooked. The by-catch of the green sea turtles in the ocean is just as devastating as the by-catch of the tiny pond turtle. I am appealing to your sense of kindness and responsibility to be the turtles’ voice and protection. If you see any harming of the turtles this year, please call the local conservation officer, as well as Steve Maricle, senior fish biologist with the Fish and Wildlife office in Kamloops and Mayor Nancy Cooper. Leanne McIvor

Salmon Arm Observer