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A couple have donated their cabin and 12 hectares of land in Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg County to protect one of the province’s most at-risk species: Blanding’s turtles.
Maggie Thomas and her husband, Richard Donat, who died late last month just days before the donation to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust was announced, lived next to Eds Island for over 50 years.
The peninsula is located in the region of the Pleasant River watershed, a wilderness area west of Bridgewater, N.S., that is home to endangered species like the eastern ribbonsnake and Blanding’s turtle.
Cottage development and road construction have edged the turtles out of their habitat. Thomas noticed how much the area changed during the years as cabins popped up around the island and a suburb sprouted up nearby.
“So we thought, well, ‘We’ll protect this little bay,’” Thomas said.
There are only approximately 500 adult Blanding’s turtles left in Nova Scotia. The future of the reptile is uncertain as they have a hatchling survival rate of under one per cent.
Richard Donat and Maggie Thomas at their home directly across from Eds Island. (Submitted by Maggie Thomas)
Thomas and Donat originally bought a small portion of land for their family to live on when the couple were involved in the film industry. Donat was an actor who starred in television shows such as Star Wars: Ewoks and Haven, while Thomas was involved in production.
The couple lived across from the peninsula for years, and they and their two sons swam in the surrounding Shingle Lake. The partners eventually bought a total of 12 hectares of land, which they donated to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust in hopes to preserve the peninsula.
It took two years to finalize the donation. During that period, Donat battled illness and eventually died on March 28, at the age of 84, with Thomas by his side. The donation was announced four days later. Her partner’s passing makes the protected area more special to Thomas.
“It’s great,” Thomas said. “And it’s even more now that my partner has passed away and it’s like a memorial to him now for the family anyway.”
Donat enjoyed spending time in his garden while being a “believer in the land,” according to Thomas. One of their sons will now maintain the land they once looked after.
‘Incredible area’
Although Thomas knew Blanding’s turtles were rare and under protection, she’s never actually seen one.
“They’re sneaky,” Thomas said.
The family’s donation will add to the turtle’s living area, which has been mapped as a critical habitat by the nature trust group.
Jaimee Morozoff, the director of conservation for Nova Scotia Nature Trust, said Thomas and Donat’s contribution is important because the land lies inside the critical habitat area.
She said the turtles rely on getting their food in lakeshore locations, which are more present in this region.
“Our goal is to let nature thrive. We want to protect it,” she said.
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