Top Photo: Sliders catching some rays.

As soon as the sun returned after a couple of weeks of overcast skies, and 12 solid days of rain, our Wetlands turtles returned to their favorite perches to bask in the golden, and long awaited, sunshine. The turtles were crowded onto logs, boulders, and tree limbs. Where there was sun, there were turtles.

There’s proof in the Wetlands’ water that at least one turtle that had come ashore to nest this past summer was successful. Ranger Amanda spotted a very tiny eastern musk turtle swimming just under the surface of the water this past Tuesday (10/6). Like its larger cousins, the yellow-bellied sliders, this little stinkpot was attempting to mount a floating willow branch to soak up a few rays. It couldn’t seem to manage to hang on to the branch and soon slipped off, reluctantly swimming off into the muddy water.

To say these young musk turtles are small does little to describe just how small they are at hatching.

So, if you like turtles, and who doesn’t, come on out to Explore the Wild and see for yourself what’s going on!