Western painted turtle
Chrysemys picta bellii
- Notice
- Dark shell with fine yellow marks
- When
- Spring basking
- Habitat
- Ponds and wetlands
- Best cue
- Logs near still water
Western painted turtles warm themselves by basking out of the water. A dark shell with fine yellow markings and red color along the body edge can help distinguish them at a distance.
Metro specifically highlights spring basking turtles at a Portland urban wetland. Water, temperature, and disturbance all change whether any are visible.