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Northern California's Western Pond Turtle
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Western Pond Turtle
When you’re out and about taking a nature hike or just exploring, keep an eye out for Northern California’s only native turtle, the Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata). This turtle species has a home range from Washington to California.
He’s a freshwater reptile that likes to spend his fair weather days basking in the sun on a river bank or on a snag in the water. If the weather heats up, you may see him floating around to cool his body temperature down.
Streams, large rivers, marshes, ponds, and slow-moving water are where you’re most likely to spot this little guy. To accurately identify the Western Pond Turtle, you’ll need a pair of binoculars. From a distance they look very much like a couple of other non-native turtle species that now inhabit California. More often, people spot the sliders, spiny soft-shelled, and the painted turtles.
These are non-native turtle species that were introduced by way of pet stores which brought them from the east coast as well as the Midwest. When people tired of them or they go too big, they were released into local waterways. They have adapted quite nicely to California habitats, so careful observation is necessary when identifying a specific turtle.
A good clue that you’re looking at the real McCoy is that the Western Pond Turtle has black spots on a light-colored head and their nose is blunt. The spiny soft-shelled turtle’s nose is pointed. Painted turtles, as well as sliders have the same shaped head, but it’s dark-toned. They also have light stripes or whorls on them.
Unfortunately, the Western Pond Turtle is now classified in California as a species of special concern. Because these reptiles can live into their 40s, their presence is not a true indication of their numbers and they are being closely monitored. Their numbers have dwindled in the wild due to the majority of streams, marshes, and ponds that the turtles have called home having been drained, developed or diverted.
Even when you come across a population of Western Pond turtles, sometimes that group isn’t even producing offspring because of predators such as non-native bullfrogs and black bass, which eat young turtles. Also, the turtles’ nests are often trampled by people and sometimes cattle.
An appropriate way to view turtles is to watch from a distance as to not startle them and to avoid leading any predators such as skunks and raccoons to where they live. Please try to keep track of any Western Pond Turtles that you do identify; pictures are a great help. If you see young turtles in the same area, let a ranger or local wildlife authority know so they may be able to keep track of growing populations.
One of my favorite outdoor hangouts for viewing wildlife is Grizzly Island in Suisun. There is always tons of exceptional wildlife in the marsh and you may just get to see a Western Pond turtle basking in the sun.
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