Welcome to Petrie Island.

Park Rules apply year round, including that dogs are not permitted anywhere on the Island. These rules protect the flora and fauna of Petrie Island and add to our visitors’ enjoyment.

https://www.petrieisland.org/before-you-visit
https://www.petrieisland.org/avant-de-visiter

Parking is free at present as machines have been removed for the season. There are currently no amenities on the island.

If you can’t get out to Petrie Island, check out the visitor photos on our website, join our Facebook Group called Petrie Island: Our Small Wilderness, or follow our Facebook page.

2024 Highlights

By the numbers

• 354 turtle hatchlings released back into Petrie waters- 45 painted, 149 map and 233 snapping turtle eggs retrieved
• 15 hatchling release events with about 700 attendees
• 600 people waitlisted for turtle hatchling releases
• 300 school children and groups took guided tours
• 152 children attending 4 English Naturalist sessions
• 62 children attending 4 French Naturalist sessions.  
• 4 new interpretive signs installed on Turtle Trail
• 4 public events- nature walks, Turtle Day, Nature Day
• 4 new benches in stalled on longer trails
• 15 native species featured in wildflower garden by Nature Centre
• new Volunteer Memorial walk and lookout
• 60% increase in tent and picnic table reservations
• over 6000 members on the FB group: Petrie Island, Our Little Wilderness
• 7 km of nature trails maintained
• 100 memberships purchased

Get your 2025 membership

•  https://www.petrieisland.org/get-involved

In partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Ottawa Riverkeeper we undertake turtle conservation work with a focus on protecting turtle eggs. Turtle eggs were retrieved and stored at an incubator at Riverhouse until they hatched in August. Almost 400 hatchlings were released back into Petrie wetlands in August. There was exceptional interest with about 700 people coming out to watch this ageless lifecycle event. Unfortunately we were unable to accommodate all the interest in the hatchling events,
Thank you to all who sponsored a baby turtle. https://www.petrieisland.org/sponsor-a-baby-turtle. The donors received a certificate and advance registration to Turtle Hatchling Release sessions.
Our 2024 program resulted in almost 400 map, snapping and painted turtle hatchlings being returned to the wetlands of Petrie Island. In Canada all species of freshwater turtles are considered at risk.

Thank you for your support!

Please note that there is a current outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Ontario. If you find a goose, duck or other water bird that is sick or deceased, please report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781 or online at cwhc-rcsf.ca.