The first two species listed below, the Painted Turtle & the Snapping Turtle, are commonly seen in the ponds located in our botanical gardens. The other turtle species are found in habitats throughout Wisconsin, however, we have yet to find them here.

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

This is a commonly seen species of freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae. They are named for the vibrant red, orange, and yellow markings on their shells, heads, and legs - giving them a "painted" appearance. These medium-sized turtles can reach lengths of 5 to 10 inches, with females generally being larger than males. For every year that they live, they grow about 1 inch until they are at maximum size. 

The painted turtle's range stretches from Canada to Mexico and across much of the United States. They can live in a variety of freshwater environments, including ponds, lakes, marshes, slow-moving rivers, and streams. Because they are cold-blooded reptiles, they need plenty of basking sites within their habitats, such as logs, rocks, or vegetation, where they can absorb warmth from the sun daily. They also need muddy or sandy bottomed water sources for foraging. Young turtles tend to be more carnivorous, feeding on insects, crustaceans, tadpoles, and small fish. As they mature, their diet shifts to include more aquatic vegetation, algae and fruits. They are overall opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat whatever comes their way.

Painted turtles have a relatively long lifespan, sometimes living over 50 years. They reach sexual maturity between 4 and 7 years old. After mating, the female searches for a suitable nesting site on land. This is usually a sandy or loamy bank nearby a water source. She digs a nest cavity with her long claws, lays a clutch of 4 to 24 eggs, and then covers the nest with soil and vegetation. The eggs will hatch between 60 and 90 days later, and the sex of the offspring depends on temperature. Warmer temperatures produce more females, while cooler temperatures produce more males.

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

The common snapping turtle is a species of large, freshwater turtles in the family Chelydridae. This species is noted for its aggressive disposition when out of the water. It frequently hisses with an open mouth, or "snaps" with its powerful, beak-like jaws, and highly mobile head and neck. It has a rugged, muscular build with a ridged upper shell that varies in color from tan to brown and black. These turtles can grow quite large, from 10-35 lbs. and 10-19 inches long. 

Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia, and Florida. Common habitats for these turtles are streams or pond, or any slow-moving water source with an abundance of aquatic vegetation. Common snapping turtles sometimes bask in the sun for warmth, especially in the northern parts of their range. This species is omnivorous and will eat anything it can fit in its mouth including many invertebrates, fish, frogs, other amphibians, reptiles, unwary birds, and even small mammals.

These turtles can live up to 50 years in the wild, or longer in captivity. This species mates from April through November, with their peak laying season in June and July. The female can hold sperm for several seasons, using it as necessary. Females travel over land to find sandy soil in which to lay their eggs, often some distance from the water. After digging a hole, the female typically deposits 25 to 80 eggs each year, covering them with sand for incubation and protection. Eggs will hatch after 9-18 weeks, depending on the temperature. 

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

This turtle species belongs to the family Emydidae and is easily recognized by their high-domed carapaces, providing excellent protection from predators. Their bottom shell has a hinged plate that they can close over their face and front legs, giving them a “box” shape. This is a key adaptation that allows them to withdraw completely into their shells. Adults typically range in size from 4.5 to 8 inches. Their coloration is highly variable, often featuring a mix of brown, yellow, orange, and even red markings. These patterns serve as camouflage, helping them blend into the leaf litter and undergrowth of their habitat.

Box turtles are primarily found in the eastern and central United States, living in a variety of woodland, forest, and grassland habitats. They require a mix of sunny and shady areas, along with access to a consistent water source. They also prefer areas with loose, loamy soil, as they can often be found digging and burrowing. Box turtles are omnivores, with a highly varied diet that changes throughout their lives. Young box turtles feed mostly on insects, worms, and other invertebrates. As they grow older, their diet shifts to include more plant matter like fruits, berries, fungi, leaves, and flowers.

Box turtles are a long-lived species. In the wild, they can live for 50 years or more, with some individuals estimated at more than 100 years of age. Their slow metabolism and protective shell contribute to their long lifespan. They are also slow to reach sexual maturity, typically not breeding until they are 10 to 15 years old. Mating season happens in the spring and early summer. After mating, the female will burrow and excavate a nest, usually in a sunny location with well-drained soil. She will lay a clutch of 1 to 11 eggs, which will then hatch in 70 to 120 days.

Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)

The wood turtle is a species of land turtle in the family Emydidae, native to northeastern North America. It can grow 5.5-8 inches long, and is defined by the pyramidal shape of the scutes on its upper shell. The larger scutes display a pattern of black or yellow lines. This species spends a great deal of time in or near the water of wide rivers, preferring shallow, clear streams with sandy bottoms. The wood turtle can also be found in forests and grasslands but is rarely seen far from a water source.

The wood turtle exists in a broad geographic range extending from Canada in the north to Minnesota in the west and Virginia in the south. The wood turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on plant matter and animals both on land and in water. They eat beetles, millipedes, and slugs. They will also eat fungi, mosses, grasses and insects.

This species can live up to 40 years in the wild. They become reproductively mature between 14 and 18 years of age. Mating activity among wood turtles peaks in the spring and again in the fall. Males fight each other to gain access to females. Nesting occurs from May until July. Nesting areas are usually sunny, contain soft soil, are free from flooding, and lack large rocks and vegetation. Before laying her eggs, the female may prepare several false nests, to throw off predators. After she digs a true nest site, she will dig out a small cavity, and lay 3 to 20 eggs before covering them with soil. The eggs will hatch in 47-69 days. 

Red-eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The red-eared slider is a medium-sized freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae known for its distinctive red ear patch and its ability to quickly “slide” off logs into water. They have an olive-green to brown shell with yellow marbling and a yellowish bottom shell that is marked by dark blotches. Adults can grow to around 6–8 inches long. They can often be found in quiet, slow-moving water sources with muddy or soft bottoms. They thrive in ponds, marshes, swamps, lakes, and slow streams. Their ideal habitat features abundant aquatic vegetation and plenty of basking sites to soak up the sun.

This turtle's range is located mainly in the Mississippi River basin in the U.S. and extends to northern Mexico. They are omnivores with a very broad diet. Hatchlings and young sliders eagerly feed on insects, worms, aquatic snails, small fish, tadpoles - in search of a high protein diet. Older sliders graze more frequently on aquatic vegetation like duckweed, water lilies and algae. 

In the wild, red-eared sliders can live about 20 years. They reach sexual maturity at ages 4-8, and breeding typically occurs in spring. Females typically nest in late spring or early summer. They seek sunny spots with soft soil or sand, often not very far from the water’s edge. She digs a small hole and lays about 5 to 20 eggs per nest; a large female may lay 2-3 clutches of eggs per year. The eggs will hatch 60-90 days after being laid. Slider hatchlings are extremely small and vulnerable, with only a tiny percentage (often less than 1% of hatchlings) surviving to adulthood in the wild.

Turtles & Humans

Historically, various species of turtles were harvested for food and used in traditional medicine. Today, many species are protected by law, depending on the state you live in. (Some harvesting still occurs in certain areas.) Habitat loss and fragmentation of existing livable habitats pose the greatest threats to these turtle populations. Road mortality is also a significant concern, as turtles often cross roads to reach nesting sites or water sources. Conservation efforts include protecting and restoring wetland habitats, creating wildlife corridors, and reducing road mortality. If you see a turtle crossing the road, put your flashers on, pull over, and help that little reptile friend across the road in the direction they were heading!