no photo — written note
Animals
A heavy, prehistoric-looking turtle with a saw-toothed tail. Calm underwater, defensive on land, and often seen crossing roads in June.
Field facts
HabitatPonds, rivers, marshes, reservoirs
RangeStatewide
When to lookActive April to October; nesting in June
StatusLeast Concern (Indiana DNR / IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesMusk Turtle — far smaller
Field note: Females may travel a mile overland to reach a nesting bank.
Lesson
Watching responsibly
Help one across a road only by nudging from behind with a flat object, never by the tail.
The neck reaches much further than it looks; keep hands clear of the head.
Your records
No sightings yet. Log one from the Observe tab to earn this stamp.
Log a sighting