June is turtle season in Ontario. This is the time of year when turtles are most often seen as they travel to their nesting sites. Unfortunately, “hitting the road” can sometimes be all too literal for turtles as they risk their lives crossing roads. I spotted the above Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) in the middle of the road, apparently basking in the sun. When I got out of my car to move (probably) her, she quickly withdrew into her shell. Painted turtles are about 11 to 14 centimeters long, with females larger than males. As this turtle was at the top end of that range, it was likely a female. I set her down in vegetation at the side of the road she had been heading towards.
Since she was being so co-operative, I snapped a few pictures before leaving her in peace. You’d think a “painted” turtle might have a more colourful shell, but it is just the margin of the carapace (upper shell) and the red and yellow striping of the legs and neck that give the turtle its name. The individual sections of the carapace are called scutes. The lower shell is called the plastron. Painted Turtles are noted for their habit of basking in the sun, sometimes lining up together on partially submerged logs. Northern turtles survive the winter by hibernating in the mud of ponds or streams. Painted turtles can survive without oxygen while hibernating for up to five months, longer than any other known air-breathing vertebrate.
There are eight species of turtles in Ontario. The Painted Turtle is the most common and widespread species. Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are still present in significant numbers but are vulnerable in some areas where populations were once stronger. The remaining 6 species (Blanding’s, Musk or Stinkpot, Map, Spotted, Spiny Softshell, and Wood) are all in trouble, listed as threatened or endangered. Threats to turtles include the loss of wetland habitat, road mortality, pollution, collection as pets, and predation. These pressures may soon overwhelm these important wetland ecosystem members.
If you see a turtle on the road, you can stop and help it across the road, or direct traffic until it makes it on its own. For more on helping turtles cross the road, check out Outside Up North. You can contribute to knowledge about turtle numbers and movement by reporting sightings to the Ontario Turtle Tally.
Willow House Chronicles 
When we were at the Indian River Reptile Zoo near Peterborough a few years ago, we caught a presentation in which the speaker explained, and showed, how to help a female Snapping Turtle off the road without losing a finger. I forget now what the trick was, but can recall how far around her neck can reach!
That’s a good point, Waterjay. I just added a link with a bit of information about helping turtles cross the road. I have yet to see any here, but we used to have snappers where we lived in the GTA, and they can be very scary. If I had a blanket in the car, I found throwing that over the turtle helped distract it while I moved it. Or if you can put the blanket down and urge the turtle on to it, you can drag it.
I like the way, with you greeting the sun before us, your comment is waiting for me in the morning!
You must have a busy day planned. Greenhawk has its grand opening there today! http://www.greenhawk.net/scstore/StJohnNowOpenFlyer.pdf
Thanks for the Turtle Handling refresher course! And next time you’re picking up a bridle at the Rothesay Ave location, drop by and we’ll grab some coffee at the Java Moose.
Oh, what a nice invitation! I don’t expect to be travelling far in the next little while, but maybe some day. I’ve been to Nfld, but not the rest of the maritime provinces and would like to visit there. Fiddlegirl drove through NB on the way to PEI last summer and loved it, especially the Grand Falls region.