Painted Turtle
The habitats occupied by this turtle are the same locations favoured for human settlement.
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks mortality are added to natural losses, What do they look like? turtle populations usually decline. ainted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) are This combination of factors has placed often visible on warm days, swim- the Painted Turtle at risk in British ming in shallow water or basking on Why are Painted Turtles Columbia. P logs along the lakeshore. As the only at risk? native freshwater turtle in British he Painted Turtle faces many threats What is their status? Columbia, this species is unlikely to be within its limited range in southern he Painted Turtle is the most wide- confused with any other animal, except British Columbia. Furthermore, the ly distributed of the 49 turtle introduced species, such as the Red- T specific habitat it requires – wetlands species in North America.Although eared Slider Turtle, that have been and ponds for hiding and foraging, adja- T local populations have been thoughtlessly released by pet owners. cent to upland areas with soils suitable reduced by land development across its The characteristic feature of all tur- for nesting – is found in very few places range, it is abundant in many areas in tles is their protective bony shell, within that range. the United States. The British Columbia which encloses most of the body. The Alteration or destruction of its population is small because our shell has three parts: the domed cara- habitat is probably the main threat province is at the northern edge of its pace on the back; the flat plastron on faced by the Painted Turtle in British range and provides little habitat that is the underside; and the bridges, which Columbia. The wetlands favoured by suitable for this specialised animal. connect the two shells. In Painted Tur- this reptile are almost all in valleys or The number of Painted Turtles in tles, the carapace is slightly longer lowlands in the southern part of the British Columbia is not known. De- than it is wide. Turtle shells are cov- province, the same locations favoured tailed surveys have been done in only ered with thin, horny scutes, which for human habitation. Particularly in one area – Kikomun Creek Provincial give the turtle its characteristic colour. past years, many wetlands, ponds and Park beside Lake Koocanusa in the The scutes are shed and re-grown each sluggish channels were drained, filled East Kootenay Region – where re- summer. Many scutes often collect at or modified to meet human needs. searchers estimate there are 800 to favoured basking sites where the tur- Uplands around many wetlands have 900 turtles. That area may have the tles dry their shells in the hot mid- been developed, leaving little or no best Painted Turtle habitat in the summer sun to get rid of algae and nesting habitat. province, so num- promote shedding. Turtles possess no Living in areas of human bers in other loca- teeth and rely on a sharp, horny beak development also poses other The Painted tions are most likely for chewing. The hind feet are webbed threats for these turtles, includ- lower. The provincial and are the main source of propulsion ing traffic mortality on roads Turtle is population probably when swimming. located beside wetlands, distur- the only numbers in the low The standard measurement of the bance of basking or nesting tur- thousands, but bet- length of a turtle is its plastron length. tles by the public, trampling of native ter information is In British Columbia, adult male Paint- their nests and the illegal capture freshwater needed. ed Turtles have plastron lengths of 9 to of turtles for pets. In view of its 17 centimetres; females are bigger and Painted Turtles have numer- turtle in localised occurrence their plastrons may be up to 22 cm ous natural enemies in the British and threats to its habi- long. With head and tail extended, the wild. Because many of their tat, the Painted Turtle total body length is increased by about nests are dug up by egg preda- Columbia. has been placed on 50 percent. Males rarely weight over tors, such as Coyotes, Badgers, British Columbia’s 800 grams, but females may reach skunks or ground squirrels, Blue List. This list 1400 g. few young turtles are produced each identifies species that are believed to be This is one of the most colourful year. Under natural conditions this vulnerable to further declines in abun- turtles, as its name suggests. Yellow low level of recruitment is enough to dance. Like most native wildlife species stripes on its head, neck, tail and legs, maintain the population, since adults in British Columbia, the Painted Turtle and irregularly shaped, bright red have lower death rates and may live is protected against harassment, killing markings around the edges of the 20 or 30 years. But when habitat or possession under the provincial plastron and under the rim of the destruction and human-caused Wildlife Act. carapace stand out vividly against its generally black to greenish back. Male Only one clutch is produced each year. Females that are ready to lay their and female Painted Turtles have gen- Females breed throughout their life, eggs gather along the water’s edge at erally similar colouring. Males some- although some individuals probably do dusk, scanning for predators or other times have dark worm-like markings not breed every year. Painted Turtles are danger, and may approach land sever- (reticulate melanism) on the carapace. very particular about where they bury al times before deciding it is safe to go One of the most reliable features for their eggs and usually select warm, ashore. During nest-digging and egg- telling the sexes apart is the long slen- unvegetated south-facing sites with laying, which start at dusk and contin- der claws on the front feet of the male. soils that are dry, light in texture and ue late into the night, they are very free of roots or large stones. Exposure wary and readily abandon the attempt How do they reproduce? to warm summer temperatures is if disturbed. Females spend several tudies at Kikomun Creek Provincial necessary for egg development and minutes exploring the nesting area, Park have shed considerable light on hatching. Site selec- before selecting a suitable site Painted Turtle reproduction near the tion has a profound and digging a depression with S northern edge of this species’ range. effect on the young Gender is their front claws. They then In this area, male turtles become sexually since their gender straddle the depression and dig a mature at about four years of age; females is determined by determined flask-shaped hole about 12 cm not until seven or eight years. During the the temperature of by the deep with their strong hind feet, breeding season, in early spring, several the nest – male off- while periodically wetting the males often swim after a female. When spring from cooler temperature soil with urine. If they encounter one catches up, he faces her and uses his nests and females of the nest. stones or roots they sometimes long claws to stroke her head, then swims from warmer ones. move to another location or away enticing her to follow. After several Nest sites are usually within 150 metres come back another night. minutes of courtship the female sinks to of ponds and may include non-natural The eggs are deposited one at a time the bottom of the pond, followed by the environments like dikes, road shoulders in the nest hole, each one being care- male, and they mate. or parking lots. Uplands around many fully positioned toward the back of the In British Columbia, females lay ponds used by Painted Turtles, includ- cavity. When she is finished laying, the clutches of about 6 to 18 leathery, white ing those at Kikomun Creek Park, are female pushes the excavated soil back eggs from early June to early July. The mostly forested, therefore open nesting into the hole, moistens it with more small, oval eggs are about 3 cm long. terrain is very limited. urine and packs it down with her hind 30 years, so the few hatchlings that What makes them unique? Present distribution of the Painted Turtle survive are usually enough to main- urtles have bodies that are quite dif- in Canada and the tain the population. ferent from those of other four- United States legged creatures and other reptiles, What do they eat? T like snakes. Because their ribs form n the spring, Painted Turtles become part of the shell, they are unable to active when the water temperature breathe by expanding and contracting reaches 10°C, but they do not start the ribs. Instead they contract and relax I feeding until it is about 14°C. the abdominal muscles to pump air in Feeding occurs almost entirely in the and out of the lungs. Their shells are also water because these turtles have heavy and restrictive, especially on land. difficulty swallowing dry food. In sum- Nevertheless, this unique anatomy does mer, they often stay underwater for up have advantages, the main one being to 20 minutes before coming to the sur- that the head, legs and tail can be face to breathe. On sunny days most drawn into the shell for protection. feeding activity is in the morning, Having no external followed by basking in the after- Painted ears, turtles cannot noon when the sun is hottest. hear high-frequen- The diet of the Painted Turtle Turtles feed cy sounds, but the has not been studied in detail in in the shell serves as a sort British Columbia. In the United of ear drum by con- States they are reported to feed morning, ducting low-fre- on a wide variety of aquatic and bask quency vibrations feet and by raising and dropping her plants and small animals, with to the middle ear. shell on the nest surface. The entire young turtles tending to be car- in the Painted Turtles digging, laying and covering process nivorous and to become more afternoon. breathe when out takes from one to three hours. herbivorous as they grow older. of the water, but Eggs in nests that are not destroyed On the other hand, researchers can stay submerged by predators incubate for 70 to 80 days in Saskatchewan found that adult without breathing for long periods. and hatch in late August or early Painted Turtles primarily ate crayfish, Turtles are ectotherms, meaning that September. The baby turtles, called which were large, abundant and easily they do not produce their own body hatchlings, tear open the thin eggshells captured. This was true even where heat like birds or mammals, but like birds do, using a sharp projection aquatic vegetation was abundant. absorb heat energy from their envi- on their upper beak called the egg They never saw turtles graze on vege- ronment. Their metabolic rate and tooth. In British Columbia, most tation and concluded that most vege- demand for oxygen therefore varies hatchlings stay in the nest until May tation in turtle stomachs was eaten by with the external temperature. Painted or June of the following year, despite accident. In other areas, Painted winter temperatures which may fall to Turtles eat a variety of freshwa- Present distribution of the Painted Turtle -5°C in the shallow nest. This means ter insects and larvae, snails, in British Columbia that eggs or hatchlings may be present earthworms, frogs, tadpoles, and at a nest site nearly year round. aquatic plants such as milfoil Many nests are dug up by preda- and algae. They also scavenge on tors, and even in undisturbed nests it dead animal matter, or carrion. is not uncommon for some or all of A diet high in animal matter the eggs or young to perish due to may be important for northern winter freezing. Some hatchlings are turtles, allowing them to grow also killed by predators during their quickly during the short open- journey to the pond or after arriving water season and to accumulate Kamloops there. Fortunately, adult turtles have enough energy to survive a low death rates and can live as long as long, cold winter. Turtles are the most northerly include the Creston Valley occurring turtles in North Wildlife Area and Kikomun America. In winter, the waters Creek Provincial Park. At of their ice-covered ponds are Kikomun, the turtles occur in generally about 2°C and their good numbers in a chain of metabolic rate is extremely kettle-hole lakes formed by low. This allows them to sur- isolated chunks of melting ice vive months of hibernation at the end of the last ice age. by relying on anaerobic meta- These small, fairly shallow bolism (metabolism without lakes get quite warm in sum- oxygen), supplemented with mer, have muddy bottoms, some direct uptake of oxygen and support aquatic plants through specialised gill-like like stonewort, milfoil and tissues around the cloaca pondweeds. Some turtles here (the common opening of the move short distances between reproductive and digestive . lakes in search of hibernation, tracts). Bill Swan photo basking, foraging or nesting Freshwater turtles are un- sites. equalled in their ability to tolerate the In the Southern Interior, Painted build-up of lactic acid, a toxic sub- Where do they live? Turtles are most frequently seen from stance produced by anaerobic metab- ainted Turtles have a wide distribu- late April or May, when the water tem- olism. In British Columbia, most tion, occurring across southern perature reaches about 10°C, to Sept- Painted Turtles occur in the Interior, Canada from British Columbia to ember. At Kikomun and other places, where their ponds may be frozen P Nova Scotia, and south to Kansas, turtles are sometimes seen swimming, from November to April with a cov- Louisiana and Georgia. They are usually in shallow areas while foraging ering of ice that reaches half a meter generally absent from the arid south- in the morning, but the best viewing in thickness. At Kikomun Creek western United States and the Pacific opportunities are when they are bask- Provincial Park, biologists found tur- Coast south of Washington State. ing in the sun on warm summer after- tles wintered in shallow waters (10- Throughout their range they frequent noons. For basking they prefer floating 100 cm deep) within 10 m of the ponds, marshes, small lakes, ditches and logs or other sites surrounded by water shore, on top of the mud. Oxygen sluggish streams, usually with muddy where they are safe from predators. levels in those waters were 5 to 9 parts bottoms and considerable growth of Where such sites are not available, they per million, compared to only 3 or 4 aquatic plants. may bask in warm lakeshore mud. At parts per million in deeper parts of In British Columbia, Painted Turtles favoured basking sites, which are in the lake. Selecting the most oxygen- are irregularly distributed but locally high demand, the turtles may be piled rich waters probably helps these abundant in Southern Interior valleys, two or more deep. At one lake in northern turtles avoid lactic acid poi- including the Rocky Mountain Trench Kikomun Park, as many as 60 turtles soning, which could result if they north to Golden, the Creston and have been seen basking on an 8-metre were completely dependent on anaer- Nelson areas, the Okanagan Valley, and long log! obic metabolism for several months. the Kamloops-Shushwap Lake area. In addition to their ability to sur- There is also a population near Williams What can we do? vive long, cold winters, northern Lake. On the coast they are less com- abitat protection is the most urgent populations of the Painted Turtle dif- mon, but have been recorded in the priority for Painted Turtle conser- fer from their more southern relatives Fraser Valley from Vancouver to Hope, vation in British Columbia. This in several ways. They tend to grow in the Sechelt-Powell River area, and H requires better knowledge of the faster and larger, be more carnivo- on southeast Vancouver Island. The local distribution and abundance of rous, mature later and produce fewer Vancouver Island records probably the turtles. Not just any wetland is used but larger clutches of eggs. These are result from escaped pets and this may by these turtles, so we need to know the believed to be adaptations to the also be true for other coastal sites. location of key habitats if we are to northern environment. Reliable places to see Painted Turtles protect them. . R. Wayne Campbell photo . BC Parks photo
Although some Painted Turtle habi- by alerting provincial or municipal re-introducing turtles to former habi- tats in the province are well known habitat protection staff about land tats or removing alien predators like and some are in protected places like developments that threaten the turtles bullfrogs. These activities require indi- parks or wildlife sanctuaries, others are or their habitat. With proper planning it vidual study to determine their feasibil- not. Most wetlands and riparian zones may be possible to prevent habitat loss ity and likelihood of success. now receive some kind of protection, and end up benefiting a myriad of wet- The public is urged to become more but this is hard to achieve on private land organisms in addition to turtles. familiar with this unique member of lands, which comprise much of the As well, it may be possible to improve British Columbia’s diverse fauna and to valley bottom area in southern British the lot of turtles in some locations by take part in programs to protect it. It will Columbia. Even in parks, the develop- restoring degraded wetlands, providing be a sad day indeed if this colourful tur- ment of roads, trails, beaches and basking logs, creating nesting habitat, tle ceases to brighten our waters. campgrounds can have an impact on turtle habitat. And where visitor levels are high and the turtles are an attrac- tion, they may be frequently disturbed or even captured and taken home by well-meaning, but uninformed turtle , : enthusiasts. Turtles do not make good Wildlife Branch pets and many suffer a slow death due Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks to starvation or malnutrition. Taking PO Box 9374, Stn Prov Govt them from the wild also prevents them Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9M4 from maintaining natural populations by reproducing. When visiting those delightful places where Painted Turtles are trying to go about their business, as they have done for millions of years, take great care to avoid disturbing them. This means observing basking sites from a distance, keeping dogs on a leash, not trampling nest sites and not picking up any tur- . tles. People with information about --- , Painted Turtles are urged to contact BC . Environment regional offices. Interested citizens and naturalists can support Painted Turtle conservation Printed in British Columbia on recycled paper with vegetable inks .