Oliver was acquired .  Born in captivity, this rare turtle makes for a great educational reptilel. Oliver is always a favorite for small children, who claim he is always smiling.

Blanding's Turtle (Tortue mouchetee)

Dining and Dwelling

The Blanding’s turtle is an omnivor feeding on fish, minnows, tadpoles, small aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, insects and other aquatic life. While on land they will also feed on vegetation.

They spend most of their time in the water of lakes and ponds. They may wander for some distance on land but they do their sunbathing near water. When frightened on land , a Blanding’s turtle may hiss, quickly draw itself into it’s shell, and can stay there for hours at a time.

Life and Death

This turtle lays six to eleven eggs in a hole about seven inches deep. They are laid in June or early July and usually hatch in September.

The numbers of this species have depleted to such an extent, in some areas, that federal authorities have placed it on a list of endangered Canadian reptiles.

That's Amazing

-Unlike most aquatic turtles, it can swallow it's food without submerging its head underneath the water.