Western Painted Turtles

Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) are one of two species of freshwater turtles native to Washington State, the other being the western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata). Unlike the western pond turtle, which is an endangered species in Washington, the western painted turtle is one of the most widespread turtle species in the North America. It is native to 21 US states, 5 Canadian provenances, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua (a distribution map can be seen here). In Washington, they can be found throughout the Columbia River, Central and Eastern Washington, and Whatcom County, as well as parts of Skagit and San Juan Counties. However, the Nature Mapping Foundation has recorded western pond turtles throughout the rest of Western Washington as well.

Western painted turtles have bright red and yellow markings on the neck, head, tail, legs. The plastron (the lower part of the shell) has distinctive red, yellow, and brown markings while their carapace (the upper part of the shell) is olive to brown in color. Males can grow up to 6 inches long while females can grow up to 10 inches long.

They prefer to reside in slow-moving or still water with muddy bottoms, abundant aquatic vegetation, and numerous basking sites. They spend much of their time during the day basking on logs, rocks, or other objects near water in order to maintain their body temperature. At night, they sleep underwater.

In the northern part of their range, western painted turtles are believed to overwinter exclusively in a burrow at the bottom of the water. Overwintering usually occurs between October and March, though depending on weather conditions they might not emerge until May.

Courtship and mating occur from March to July and most nesting occurs in June and July. Western painted turtles nest on land, though within about 164 feet (50 m) of water. Nests consist of shallow depressions dug into sandy, loamy, or clay soils and females often urinate on the nest during the digging process. Once the eggs are laid, the next is buried and covered with vegetation.

Clutch size ranges from 4-23 eggs and the females may lay more than one clutch per season. The turtles hatch in the fall, but remain in the nest until spring. The sex of the turtle is dependent on the temperature surrounding the next, with cooler weather producing more males and warmer weather producing more females. Females reach sexual maturity at a carapace length of about 5 inches (12.3 cm) while males reach it at a carapace length of 3.3 inches (8.3 cm), which they reach at about 7 and 4 years of age, respectively. They typically live to about 20 years of age.

Western painted turtles are omnivores. Younger turtles feed almost exclusively on animal matter, such as zooplankton, invertebrates, tadpoles, and small fish. As they mature, they may feed more on aquatic vegetation, but there is a wide variety in the diets of adult turtles across sites (2009 Assessment). They can only swallow in water.

Skunks, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, crows, birds of prey, and rodents prey upon them. Juveniles are more susceptible to predation than adults, though adults may still be preyed upon. Significant threats related to human activity include loss of nesting habitat and road mortality. Finally, diseases from non-native species, particularly snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), are also cause for concern.

References

Burke Museum. (n.d.). Painted turtle. Burke Museum. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/herpetology/amphibians-reptiles-washington/painted-turtle

Gervais, J., Rosenberg, D., Barnes, S., Puchy, C., & Stewart , E. (2009). (rep.). Conservation Assessment For The Western Painted Turtle In Oregon . Retrieved January 19, 2022, from https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/article/273016.

Missouri Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Western painted turtle. Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved January 24, 2022, from https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/western-painted-turtle

Oregon Zoo. (n.d.). Western painted turtle. Oregon Zoo. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from https://www.oregonzoo.org/animals/western-painted-turtle

Washington NatureMapping Program. (n.d.). Western painted turtle. NatureMapping. Retrieved January 20, 2022, from http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/painted_turtle_712.html

© Laura Caldwell, January 2022