Spotted Turtle – 6/28/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 6/28/10

Observation Time: 8:00 a.m.

Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road behind Shaw’s Plaza

Common Name: Spotted Turtle (female)

Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata

Comments: This female spotted turtle may have been searching for a sandy spot to lay eggs. It may take up to 7 years for a spotted turtle to reach sexual maturity. Or perhaps it was returning to deeper water after the vernal pool dried up where it was feeding on amphibian eggs. Young spotted turtles only have one yellow spot per scute. More yellow spots appear as they age.

Many turtles get run over by cars. If you find a turtle on a road, dead or alive, please report it to the Massachusetts Turtle Atlas

More Information: Mass. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) “Massachusetts Forestry Conservation Management Practices for Spotted Turtles”