“The level of road mortality at HLR (Heart Lake Road) is unsustainable for species with longer life spans and species with low reproducing rates such as turtles,” according to a TRCA report.

All species of turtles in Ontario are considered at-risk.

Harper has been a regular visitor to the area ever since she discovered a family of trumpeter swans with little cygnets nestled on the gravel shoulder, inches from trucks and cars whizzing by.

The city erected a section of fence to deter the swans, but even that is no longer effective — they are crossing nearby where the fence is not.

The male swan is now at the TWC healing from what may have been injuries suffered in a collision with a vehicle. The swan family has been seen crossing the busy road from one pond to the other.

Temporary fencing is a short-term solution, and the long-term solution is permanent fencing and construction of a tunnel under the road for subterranean wildlife crossing. A culvert further north on Heart Lake Road just south of Countryside Drive has reduced the amount of road kill in that area, according to the TRCA.

But the soil is less stable in the area where a safe crossing is needed most — where the ponds flank the road, which is right where Matilda was hit.

Harper doesn’t accept that as an excuse not to build one.

“Is it easy? No, but it’s what needs to happen,” she said.

“Nobody seems to want to deal with this,” a frustrated Harper said.

She implored Peel Regional Police to enforce speeding laws on the road, but says she hasn’t seen any indication that police have done anything.

“I have yet to see a police presence up there,” she said.

And drivers continue to speed along that stretch of road, she said.

“Something needs to happen,” Harper says. “They (the city) are not getting the message.”