Animals
Bright shell edges make this basking turtle easy to spot from a boardwalk on any warm morning.
Field facts
HabitatPonds, marshes, slow rivers
RangeStatewide
When to lookMarch to October
StatusLeast Concern (IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesRed-eared slider — introduced, with a red stripe behind the eye
Field note: Hatchlings can survive a winter frozen in the nest chamber.
Lesson
Watching responsibly
Never lift a turtle from the water or move it to a 'better' pond.
Where you might find it
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 71 mi
Chain O'Lakes State Park
State park · 55 mi
Your records
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