Okanagan Turtle Adoption Program
Okanagan Turtle Adoption Program
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Upcoming Events

Vancouver Reptile Expo – Interior Edition: May 24th & 25th, 2025

May 8, 2025 Justin DeMerchant

The Vancouver Reptile Expo is coming to the Okanagan! Whether you’re researching your first reptile pet or looking for something more exotic, we’re sure to have what you’re looking for. With vendors from all across […]

Adoptions

Red-eared Slider Turtle Up for Adoption

May 7, 2025 Justin DeMerchant

Name: Toby Species: Red-eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) Gender: female Age: 17 years Shell Length: 23 cm   Toby is a bit shy at first, but once you get to know her, she is […]

Events

White Lake Turtle Festival: April 12, 2025

March 31, 2025 Justin DeMerchant

The 3rd Annual White Lake Turtle Festival is coming up on Saturday April 12th! We are looking forward to participating again this year and so is our pet turtle Dilly. She loves coming to the […]

Events

Welcome to the Jungle: Plant & Animal Gala: June 30, 2024

June 27, 2024 Justin DeMerchant

Join Us! Sunday June 30th, 2024 At The Kelowna Flower Farm (3683 Berard Rd) Day Pass: $12 Children under 5: Free 10am – 4pm Celebrate and support your local small businesses and animal rescues by […]

Events

Okanagan Pet Expo: May 26, 2024

May 10, 2024 Justin DeMerchant

The Okanagan Pet Expo is back! Come meet one of our turtles and learn about turtles in the Okanagan! Okanagan Pet Expo Sunday May 26, 2024 10am – 4pm Laurel Packinghouse & Square 1304 Ellis […]

Events

White Lake Turtle Festival: April 13, 2024

March 23, 2024 Justin DeMerchant

We will be setting up a booth at the White Lake Turtle Festival on Saturday April 13th! Come meet one of our pet turtles and learn about the Western Painted Turtles and their habitat at […]

Adoptions

Painted Wood Turtle Up for Adoption

March 14, 2024 Justin DeMerchant

Name: Painty Species: Painted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) Gender: female Age: 8 years Shell Length: 15 cm   Painty is a very sweet turtle and we love her very much! She is about 8 years […]

Research

Three Invasive Red-eared Slider Turtles Caught at Skaha Lake Park

July 10, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

It’s a new personal best! Three feral Red-eared Sliders caught in less than an hour!   Three Red-eared Sliders were removed from the pond at Skaha Lake Park in Penticton on July 8, 2023 and […]

Adoptions

Turtle Up for Adoption at the BC SPCA

June 19, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

The Shuswap SPCA in Salmon Arm currently has one Red-eared Slider Turtle up for adoption! Please contact them for more information or visit their website. Pet: Splash | BC SPCA | The B.C. Society for […]

News

What’s up with turtles in Kelowna? (kelowna10.com)

June 8, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

Western Painted Turtle from Kelowna, BC on June 05, 2023 at 10:57 AM · iNaturalist “Western Painted Turtles have recently gained attention in Kelowna due to various issues affecting their population.” Read the full article […]

News

Another Kelowna painted turtle-snatching incident prompts warning to leave species be (globalnews.ca)

May 30, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

“The Conservation Officer Service is again reminding the public that like most native wildlife species in British Columbia, the western painted turtle is protected against harassment, killing or possession under the provincial Wildlife Act…” Read […]

News

Slow down for turtles (castanet.net)

May 30, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

“Keep your eyes peeled if you’re driving anywhere near a pond or wetland, especially this time of year. It’s turtle nesting season, and the Western Painted Turtle is at risk not just from loss of habitat, […]

Events

Turtle Talk at Allan Brooks Nature Centre: June 17, 2023

May 23, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

Happy World Turtle Day from Allan Brooks Nature Centre! We are thrilled to announce that our resident Turtle Expert, Justin DeMerchant, is going to be speaking at a FREE nature talk on June 17 @ […]

Events

Okanagan Pet Expo: June 11, 2023

May 23, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

We are very excited to be a participating vendor at the Okanagan Pet Expo coming up on June 11th! Come visit our table and meet our pet Red-eared Slider Dilly! There will be several other […]

Research

2022 Turtle Survey Results

April 25, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

  Red-eared Slider Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are an invasive species in the southern regions of British Columbia. Kept as pets in BC since the 1960s, Red-eared Sliders are often released into the wild or […]

News

The (turtle) battle of Mill Lake (fvcurrent.com)

March 28, 2023 Justin DeMerchant

“Two types of turtles call Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford home. One belongs there, and one does not. The western painted turtle is BC’s only native freshwater turtle. Seven or eight of them live in […]

Research

Fall Turtles

October 10, 2022 Justin DeMerchant

This year the turtles are out late. The daytime temperatures are still warm enough that the turtles are coming out to bask in large numbers. The forecast for this week is warm and sunny and […]

General

Reopening on September 2, 2022!

July 29, 2022 Justin DeMerchant

Good news! After being closed for almost two years, our turtle adoption and surrender services will be reopening on September 2, 2022. We will have some turtles up for adoption again shortly after that! If […]

General

Adoption Program Temporarily Closed

October 2, 2020 Justin DeMerchant

Our adoption and surrender services are temporarily closed. All events and education programs have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our services will be operational again as soon as possible. Please contact us if […]

News

Case of the missing turtle (castanet.net)

September 11, 2019 Justin DeMerchant

“Red-eared sliders are the most popular pet turtle breed, but are not native to the Okanagan. Somehow, one of them found its way into Kasugai Gardens and frequent visitors became attached to the turtle.” Read […]

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