It was a turtle-y awesome weekend in White Lake with the return of a community celebration of its resident Western painted turtles.

On Saturday, April 13, the White Lake Residents Association (WRLA) hosted its second annual White Lake Turtle Festival at the White Lake Community Hall. The festival鈥檚 motto was 鈥淟earn. Enjoy. Protect.鈥� Its focus was to educate and raise awareness around Western painted turtles, with an emphasis on keeping turtle hatchlings safe as they make their way across local roads towards the lake.

鈥淭his festival is our way to bring awareness to the need to care for our turtles at White Lake,鈥� said WRLA spokesperson Kathleen Ludwig in a media release. 鈥淲estern painted turtles are at risk, mainly due to predators and to being killed on the roads. The baby hatchlings are very small, about the size of a toonie, so it is hard to see them if you are driving fast.鈥�

The event included informative slide presentations by WildBC educator Peter Ballin, music, crafts, vendors and more.

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