The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is releasing hundreds of turtle hatchlings back into the wild on Thursday, September 3, 2026, and you can watch it happen for free. The 11th Annual Turtle Hatchling Release Event runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with hatchlings going out every 20 minutes starting at 1:20 p.m.
You can show up any time between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. No tickets, no lineup stress. The event is free, though donations are welcome and go toward turtle habitat, monitoring, and rehabilitation work.
The event is held at Morrison Dam Conservation Area east of Exeter, Ontario. That’s about an hour northwest of London, which makes it a very doable afternoon trip if you’ve got kids, a partner, or just a soft spot for tiny reptiles making their way into the world.
This event has been building a crowd since it launched in 2016 with 250 attendees. By 2018, that number had grown to 925, according to a post on the ABCA site covering that year’s release. The species released have included native Snapping Turtle hatchlings.
Running alongside the event is the Adopt a Turtle fundraising campaign, which wraps up on September 3. The campaign, which started May 27, is aimed at giving hundreds of hatchling turtles a healthy start and supporting wetland conservation. Details and donation links are up on the ABCA events page.
If you’re going, the ABCA events page has the full details. Arrive anytime in that 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. window, bring cash or a card if you want to donate, and maybe leave a little early if you want to catch the first release batch at 1:20 p.m.
Morrison Dam Conservation Area is located east of Exeter, Ontario. The event is free to attend on September 3, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with hatchling releases every 20 minutes. More info and the Adopt a Turtle donation link are at abca.ca/events.