This handsome turtle shows a marked preference for the shallow, sluggish waters of wet prairies and meadows, fens, bogs, marshes, small streams, ditches, and pond edges, especially where vegetation is abundant. It occasionally wanders away from water and lives in wet woods. The Spotted Turtle is most frequently observed in early spring, basking along stream or pond banks, or on objects protruding from the water. When disturbed, it may quickly dive for safety; or it may leisurely walk into the water and swim to the bottom where it may remain motionless, burrow into the muck, or crawl beneath some sheltering object such as a submerged log. This little reptile should be vigorously protected. Because people have destroyed its natural habitat by altering wetlands, Spotted Turtle populations have declined greatly throughout Ohio. LENGTH: 3” – 4”
Text courtesy of the Ohio Division of Wildlife: https://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/id%20guides/pub354_Reptiles-opt.pdf
