turtle
Posted by kendra tegstrom on September 1, 2005
Q: I was wondering what kind of turtle we found. It is about the size of my hand. The bottom of the turtle has a orangey red outline around it.The head is black with yellow stripes. Has claws and a pointy tail. Has 3 teeth that we can see.
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Saskatchewan
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: You've found a Painted Turtle. These guys are not only beautiful, they're interesting too. Turtles don't have "teeth" but they do have some tiny projections on their jaw that look like teeth.
Your particular turtle, is a Western Painted Turtle (there are four different varieties) and one of the more common turtles across much of North America. If you're going to keep it, be sure to find out what it eats and how to keep it in a good environment. You should be able to google painted turtles to find out lots about its needs. If you plan to release, you'll want to do so well before cold weather sets in.
Oh yes, one more thing. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the turtle. They sometimes have germs that you need to avoid getting into your mouth (don't go from handling the animal and then biting your nails, for example!)
Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( September 2, 2005)