All Turtles Message Board

JessicaD · Guest Joined: 16 Sep 2002 Posts: 1

I live in Western Pennsylvania and really haven\'t seen a turtle around here much before but I almost hit one coming home, this afternoon. I wasn\'t sure what to do with it but I didn\'t want to leave it on the busy road so I put him/her in the car and brought it home. When I got home I put him/her outside near my stream. He/she didn\'t go for the water but climbed under some rocks instead. After watching it for awhile it seems very pokey and laid back. I want to make sure that if I leave this turtle out there it\'s ok, but I don\'t want he/she is to learn more about his natural habit. I really don\'t think this turtle is naturally from around here.
It\'s very big, between seven and eight inches long and weighs between a pound or two. He/she has a couple bright yellowish marks on the top of his head
and neck area. Real pretty red markings on his arms and the bottom of his shell and along the trim. The top of his shell is mainly a grayish, browinsh, greenish coloring. One of the sections of his
shell is flaking off on the underside.
Thanks so much for reading, Jessica

GlennThiltgen · Level 3 Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Posts: 190

Sounds like a Red Eared Slider or Painted Turtle, the shell flaking is normal it\'s called shedding scutes, that when the shell grows. It will probably head for the stream at some point or another if it can find it.
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turtlecrazed · Level 3 Joined: 27 Sep 2002 Posts: 105

it sounds like a painted turtle to me. The red on the edge of the shell gives it away. They are aquatic turtles, but don\'t really favor creeks and streams. Find a slow moving body of water(-lake or pond) with lots of vegatation to release him in.
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GlennThiltgen · Level 3 Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Posts: 190

I almost hit a box turtle crossing the road today, almost wrecked it did
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Wu-Gwei · Level 3 Joined: 18 Oct 2002 Posts: 194

I agree that you should release it. I don\'t know the laws for your state, but I know many places have laws against picking up turtles from the wild. If you haven\'t kept it very long and have not introduced it to any other turtles, I suggest you can return to where you found it. JUst make sure you help it cross the road. Watch him for a while and make sure it goes on its way.

Turtles remember where they live and that\'s why you must return it to where you found it.

I agree, it\'s probably a painted turtle. There a couple of varieties and they\'re very common all over North America.

Cheers,
JJ Smile