Painted Turtle

Chrysemys picta

Widespread across North America. Adults hibernate below ice all winter. Hatchlings can survive partial freezing.

Population: No precise range-wide count; considered abundant and among the most common/widespread native turtles in North America, though some regional and Canadian populations show localized declines from habitat loss.
Habitat: Shallow, slow-moving freshwater with soft muddy bottoms and basking sites — ponds, marshes, slow creeks, and lake shores with abundant aquatic vegetation, across temperate North America.
Fun fact: Hatchling painted turtles commonly overwinter inside the nest cavity and can survive being partially frozen and experiencing subzero body temperatures, aided by natural cryoprotectant/antifreeze compounds in their blood.
Range: North America's most widespread native turtle — from southern Canada across roughly forty-five contiguous U.S. states to northern Mexico, Atlantic to Pacific.
Diet: Omnivorous; hatchlings and juveniles are predominantly carnivorous (aquatic insects, crustaceans, small fish, tadpoles, carrion), shifting toward more plant matter (algae, aquatic vegetation, leaves) as they mature into adults.
Size: 0.25 m
Lifespan: 40 years

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