During the day the painted turtle can be found basking in large groups on logs, rocks, and floating vegetation of ponds. At night they are sleeping at the bottom of the pond. Painted turtles are active from March to October, hibernating for the five winter months. The turtles hibernate in muddy bottoms of permanent bodies of water. Painted turtles swim beneath the ice and even bask during winter thaws. Painted turtles have a diet consisting of approximately 50% vegetation, and the other 50% made up of aquatic invertebrates, frogs, small fish,and decaying carcasses. Painted turtles hunt by lunging into underwater plants and flushing the prey hiding there. |
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Mating occurs from March to mid-June. They nest during June and early July, the females lay one or sometimes two clutches of eggs each containing from 1-20 eggs. Females often travel up to 600 meters from the edges of marshes to dig a nest about 12 cm deep in sandy or gravelly soil to deposit their eggs which they will then burry in the nest. Depending on the length of the summer season, the young may emerge in late August, or overwinter in the underground nest. The overwintering hatchlings are often exposed to sub-zero temperatures before emerging the next spring. After emerging, they migrate to a pond or river. Males become mature in 4 to 5 years, while females mature in 5 to 6 years. The shell of adult turtles is usually an efficient defence against predators. Painted Turtles can pull their head and legs right inside their shell, making them a frustrating meal at best. Nests, however, are vulnerable to a number of predators such as birds, raccoons, skunks, and other mammals. |
