Yellow-bellied slider

Description:

This was my first encounter with a turtle that was actually laying eggs. I arrived in her vicinity just as she laid the last one and began covering up the nest with her hind legs. I left while she was busy and then returned some time later - it was only because I saw where she was working that I could identify the spot where the nest was buried.

Habitat:

Sandy Creek Park; video here - https://youtu.be/S_UtNgYWcEc

Notes:

Mating takes place in the water. Suitable terrestrial area is required for egg-laying by nesting females, who will normally lay 6–10 eggs at a time, with larger females capable of bearing more. The eggs incubate for 2–3 months and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through winter. Hatchlings are almost entirely carnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, and carrion. As they age, adults eat less and less meat, and up to 95% of their nutritional intake eventually comes from plants. The lifespan of yellow-bellied sliders is over 30 years in the wild.