In early May for the past several years, the Royal Botanical Gardens in conjunction with the Hamilton Conservation Foundation, have been installing silt fencing along the length of Cootes Drive. The roadway is directly adjacent to Cootes Paradise Marsh and Spencer Creek – a major thoroughfare for breeding turtles.

Prior to the fencing, crossing turtles were killed regularly as they attempted to reach breeding grounds. The 700m silt fence acts as a barrier and helps to guide turtles along the side of the road to culverts where they can pass safely under the road. With so many long-lived, endangered and threatened turtle species living in Cootes Paradise, the loss of even one turtle can be devastating to the population.