5 tiny turtles released into mud of Grindstone Creek — the last from 59 nests rescued this year

Before making a break for it into Grindstone Creek, five baby Midland painted turtles took their time getting used to their new surroundings. 

All five siblings — each about an inch long — padded around a reusable lunch container beside a decorative plastic plant from an aquarium. A minute later, they were on the muddy banks of the creek for the first time since hatching days earlier at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) incubator. "He's thinking about it," said RBG species-at-risk biologist Sarah Richer, as she placed her charges in different spots along the water's edge. "Weighing his options. Well, weighing its options. We don't technically know if these guys are hims or hers." One by one, the hatchlings — less than a week old and released on Monday afternoon in Burlington — got their bearings and lumbered into the water, slowly digging themselves into the mud until they couldn't be seen.  "Yay, freedom!" said Richer, an enthusiastic orator with a clear passion for the reptiles.   The siblings came from one of 59 turtle nests found this year in unsafe locations on RBG properties. Such locations could be too close to a road, near pending construction, or in a RBG neighbour's yard, said Richer. This week's turtle release was the final one this year at the RBG.