Turtles: The quiet spectators
Turtles are a common sight at Otter Lake. The familiar Painted Turtle is easy to identify by the bright orange and yellows rimming its shell and underside. Their much larger cousin is the Snapping Turtle, with shells up to a foot in diameter and more of a green color. Quiet and unassuming, turtles are actually interesting creatures.
Painted turtle.
Painted turtles, the state reptile of Michigan, are on the smaller side and are often seen sunning themselves on logs and streambanks. They are the most widespread native turtle of North America, existing for over 15 million years! The Western subspecies is the one we see in the Upper Peninsula, with the Midland subspecies prevalent in lower Michigan.
Painted turtles mate in spring and autumn and can live for more than 50 years.
A snapping turtle laying eggs, June 2022.
The Common Snapping Turtle is known for its combative disposition when out of the water. Snappers have powerful jaws, and a highly mobile head and neck. Males are larger than females and most weigh 20 pounds or more, continuing to grow throughout their life, which can span 10 decades.
Like the painted turtles, females travel over land to find sandy soil in which to lay their eggs. After digging a hole, the female typically deposits 25 to 80 eggs each year, guiding them into the nest with her hind feet and covering them with sand. Eggs take 9-18 weeks to hatch, based on land and air temperatures.
Around Otter Lake, turtles are often seen laying their eggs in May and June in mown or gravel areas on high, dry ground.
Common snapping turtles are quite docile animals underwater that prefer to avoid confrontations rather than provoke them, but it’s best to stay clear. If provoked, snappers can pose a danger with their sharp claws and strong jaws.
Photos courtesy Gayle Kirby, Carol Speckman.