One of our Citizen Scientists in Amherst, MA sent in her sighting of an Eastern Painted Turtle together with this incredible photo. Even if we were only able to see the shell, we would know the subspecies. The olive bands between the carapace scutes confirm even from a distance that it is a Painted, but with this close view, we see that the scutes line-up rather than alternate, telling us that this is an Eastern Painted Turtle, as opposed to a Midland Painted Turtle, also found in Western Mass.
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April 09, 2008
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Agriculture's Toll on Wood Turtles
- Agriculture, especially haying, takes a heavy toll on wood turtles, which spend much of their time in fields. In Massachusetts, July 2005, Female #104 was hit by a hay mower. These photos document efforts to save her. She died on August 4th. What is the solution? The turtles are all but invisible deep in the grass. The saying that you have to "make hay while the sun shines," is true. Farmers have to hay, plow, etc when conditions are right. Warning: These are graphic photos of a wounded turtle.
Its a Eastern Painted Turtle, I get to see them everyday.
Posted by: Sean | August 18, 2009 at 05:16 PM
The Eastern Painted turtle has beautiful colors. They are a great starter turtle for newbies.
Posted by: Claire | November 22, 2009 at 06:46 PM
I love turtles!
Posted by: Turtle Stuff | January 23, 2010 at 10:47 AM
great photo,I am very familiar with every map turtle.
Posted by: jaryn | February 13, 2010 at 07:54 PM
I had a baby Painted Turtle when I was young... named him Poptart - due to his coloring :)
Thanks for posting this great photo.
Posted by: Turtle lover | March 19, 2010 at 04:10 PM