Baby Box Turtle

Katie spotted this little guy while we were walking the edge of a bean field in Marion County, Illinois. He was one of the smallest box turtles I had seen in a long time. Not a patient turtle, he seemed very much in a hurry to go somewhere. I can see why it would be tempting to keep these guys, but it is important to let them stay wild.

Spiny Softshell Turtle

I ran across this large guy in a shallow riffle on a larger tributary to the Kaskaskia River near Vandalia, Illinois. The third photo gives some perspective, since that is a normal, car-sized tire. He was only in a couple inches of water and wouldn't have been too hard to attempt to catch, but I decided to just watch him instead. After crossing the stream and climbing the bank, we looked back at the softshell. He stuck his head out of the water, looked around as if checking to see if anyone was watching, and then proceeded to twist and scoot in place until he was completely buried in the gravel and sand. His disappearing act made me contemplate previous times I have walked through shallow, clear water not thinking about buried monsters.

The Dance of the Snapping Turtles

I was walking through the woods one day at the end of April, which is a wonderful time to be walking through the woods, when I heard some splashing in the creek at the base of the hill. The splashing continued, but I could not make out what was happening. The sun was shining off the water in just the wrong way. I got out my camera to look through the lens. I thought it might be a carp. Eventually, I could make out that two snapping turtles were tumbling and twisting. The photo isn't great, but you can see that there are two snappers. I had never seen this behavior.

Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
I was excited today to get to see my first Gopher Tortoise while working in Florida, on national Endangered Species Day, no less. I was working north of Ingles, Florida when I saw this guy working his way across a field. It was a treat to watch him make his way to his hole, after waiting for a bit.His hole that he was making his way to. He was a pretty good sized tortoise, I would guess over a foot long carapace.


Diving down into safety in the hole. He made pretty good time.

More Florida Reptiles

I had a couple more Florida reptile pictures that I wanted to put up before we go to the DR next week. Kelly and I went to the wastewater treatment plant to check out some birds while the girls went to the beach. We got quite a few birds, including Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Cattle Egret, and Mississippi Kite. As we were talking with the maintenance staff, we spotted a very large female Florida Softshell crossing the parking lot towards us. Evidently, she had just laid her eggs across the road. Picking one up might not be recommended for most people...

Apalone ferox - Florida Softshell

Plestiodon laticeps - Broadhead Skink
Clinging to the side of a pine tree.

Aspidoscelis sexlineata sexlineata - Six-lined Racerunner We heard quite a few of these guys tearing off through the underbrush. They sure sound fast.

Anolis sagrei sagrei - Brown Anole
This attractive anole is not native to the US.

	Anolis carolinensis carolinensis - Northern Green Anole

These guys bring back fond memories of the pet Anoles we had loose in our house.

Eastern Mud Turtle

We found this guy in the pond at Tribble Mill County Park near Grayson, Georgia. Quite an ornate shell, but maybe that is because he is so young. Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum

First Box Turtle of the Year

Today was a glorious day to work outside. It was warm with a nice breeze, there were lots of flowers and the trees were leafing out, and the trees were full of spring migrants. It is always fun to find the first box turtle of the year.

Eastern Box Turtle

I found this guy trying to cross the road, and I took his picture before letting him loose on the other side. Possession of these handsome turtles is illegal in Indiana without a permit.

Midland Painted Turtle

Kelly is helping the turtle cross the road.

Tiny

Meet the new member of the Hess household. I caught Tiny, a baby snapping turtle, this weekend in the Red River. His shell is about as big as a quarter.