Painted Turtle

Description:

The Painted Turtle has one of the most widespread distributions of all North American turtles. The top shell has distinctive bits of red coloring along the edges, and the turtle's face and claws are covered in black and red stripes. The particular turtle pictured is of the eastern subspecies, which can be determined by the way the shell segments lie in a straight line instead of alternating.

Habitat:

Painted Turtles live mainly based around ponds and woodlands, though they will occasionally be seen on roads and highways as they move from one body of water to another--usually right after it rains.

Notes:

This turtle was spotted on a highway in upstate New York. After watching her (I believe it was a female due to the larger size--shell was approx 12 inches long) almost get hit by a car, I picked her up and carried her to a friend's pond, where she was subsequently released. As with most turtles, upon being frightened she pulled her head and legs into the shell (as pictured).