Box Turtle Biome
An ornate box turtle crosses the dusty road of her grassland habitat. Box turtles have an extremely varied diet that ranges from fruits and veggies, to insects, worms, and I even witnessed one lunging for baby toads. As a defense, turtles can void their bladders to deter predators. This, however, leaves them extremely dehydrated so, aside from helping them across busy streets, please resist the urge to handle wild turtles.
Willcox, AZ.
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Snapping Turtle
Common snapping turtles rarely venture far from water. Unfortunately, however, when the time of year comes for laying eggs, females don’t have much choice but to venture onto dry land. This girl was seeking a cozy place to lay her eggs. Aptly-named for their powerful beaks, snappers often lay underwater, completely still.
They away passing fish, frogs, are just about any other creature small enough to swallow.
Like a trap, when the jaws close, there is no escape!
When appreciating or helping a snapping turtle across the road, always be mindful of those powerful jaws!
Photographed at John Heintz NWR, PA, USA.
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Swampy Slider
A red-eared slider nestled among a patch of reeds and immersed with duckweed. Red-eared sliders are among the most popular turtles kept in captivity.
They are, however, non-native to the Southwest, and can wreak havoc on the ecosystem. Personally, I'm a strong advocate of not keeping reptiles in captivity, but if you must do so, please understand that turtles can live upwards of 20 years.
Please be prepared for the commitment and never release your once-beloved "pet"! Photo taken in Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Snapping Turtle, Snapping
While snapping pictures of this Common Snapping Turtle, I may have been at risk of getting snapped, myself. Aptly-named for their powerful beaks, snappers often lay underwater, completely still.
They await passing fish, frogs, or just about any other creature small enough to swallow.
Like a trap, when the jaws close, there is no escape! When appreciating or helping a snapping turtle across the road, always be mindful of those powerful jaws and pick the turtle up by the rear half of his / her shell!
John Heintz NWR, PA, USA.
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Tortoise of the Desert
A Sonoran Desert Tortoise proudly poses in front of his / her desert home. Despite their proficiency for desert life, tortoises are quite rare to encounter, and have suffered extensively at the hands of pet trade collection and habitat destruction. If you see one of these wonderful creatures, please watch and appreciate, but resist the urge to handle or capture. Photo taken in Saguaro NP West, Tucson, AZ.
Beautiful Box Turtle
Meet the most colorful ornate box turtle I've met. He was sitting right on the edge of a small clearing, making for a perfect photo-op! Box turtles have an extremely varied diet that ranges from fruits and veggies, to insects, worms, and I even witnessed one lunging for baby toads. As a defense, turtles can void their bladders to deter predators. This, however, leaves them extremely dehydrated so, aside from helping them across busy streets, please resist the urge to handle wild turtles. Willcox, AZ.
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Eastern Box Turtle
Following a heavy downpour, all manner of fascinating creatures sometimes emerge from hiding! A box turtle roaming about certainly has abundant pickings from all the earthworms forced aboveground. Chimney Rock, NC.
Doused in Duckweed
"Excuse me sir, would you mind telling me if there's something on my shell?" Red-eared slider photographed in Tucson, AZ.
Gloomy Day Turtle
Following a heavy downpour, all manner of fascinating creatures sometimes emerge from hiding! A box turtle roaming about certainly has abundant pickings from all the earthworms forced aboveground. Chimney Rock, NC.