A Red-Bellied Turtle Wearing Algae

Thursday, September 12, 2013,

This is a female Red-bellied Turtle that I saw resting along the Lower Carmans River. Her carapace, (that’s upper shell to folks like you and me), appears to be covered with some sort of algae. I’m not sure if this is a lifestyle comment or a fashion statement. It’s not my place to judge. JK

 

 

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November Turtles

Monday, November 17, 2008

I kayaked the Lower Carmans River several times at the start of the month. On November 1st I came across two Red-bellied Turtles. I was so surprised to see the first one that I never even tried to grab my camera. It was one of those “Wow, look at that” moments. I really hadn’t expected to see any turtles out this late in the year but there he was and there he wasn’t. He dove for cover as soon as I saw him. I guess we were both surprised. About thirty minutes later, moving more cautiously, I spied another Red-belly. This time I was ready and I got off several shots. This turtle did not seem to be bothered with my presence. (Of course I wasn’t barreling right at him from around a bend as I did with the first turtle I encountered.) When I was done taking my pics I paddled off. The turtle never stopped sunning himself. Ah, the good life.

I’d like to thank Eric Powers of Your Connection To Nature. He was instrumental in identifying the Red-bellied Turtle pictured above. Eric rocks when it comes to reptile identification. I’m not familiar with the species although I have photographed them before. It turns out that these turtles are not indigenous to our area, and like Red-eared Sliders, most are the result of home aquarium releases. That cute baby turtle at the pet store grows up and gets released into the wild only hundreds of miles from where it belongs.

I went back to the Carmans the next day. It was much colder. One day I’m out in a t-shirt and the next I’m wearing a turtleneck and a wool sweater. What I won’t do for my art and your viewing pleasure. Despite the cold, I was lucky enough to find an Eastern Painted Turtle as he basked in the sun. These beautiful turtles are native to our area. JK