Hello, nice to see you here in the Shuswap. It’s still too early this spring for swimming or boating in the Shuswap Lake, unless you’re a fisherman. So lets see what will be happening in a secluded Shuswap wetland around the first week of May. Start getting ready for Happy Turtle Day, Western Painted Turtle Day to be exact. Chrysemys picta bellii
The word “Turtle” being translated something like: a four-legged, toothless, slow-moving reptile, but not always slow. This spring they will certainly be very active. Would you like to see what goes on in the life of the Western Painted Turtle in the Shuswap?
These Western Painted Turtles live in a Shuswap wetland habitat on a small mountain lake in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. I live there too, there’s no full time electricity so I spend a lot of time outside. Come and meet my friends Chrysemys picta bellii. From eye to egg – Chrysemys picta bellii, the life of a Western Painted Turtle in the Shuswap.
Western Painted Turtle
The Western Painted Turtle, is the largest and most widespread of the Painted Turtles in North America. Bright yellow streaks on its black head, neck, legs and tail give it the “Painted” name. Highlighted patterns of orange, red and yellow decorate the plastron or belly armor on this species. With spring breeding season over, the mature female turtle around six years old, heads onto dry land to excavate the nest with her hind legs. The water she carries is to soften the ground for easier digging.
From mid June to August the females will dig a nest or several nests until the perfect one is constructed and then four to twenty two oblong white eggs are laid, buried and hopefully hidden. The nest can be located quite far from the water making it a daunting trek for the turtle hatchlings.
Digging the perfect nest.
An amazing feat for these showiest shelled reptiles, once you consider, the eggs are laid in the summer and hatch closer to fall. The young turtle hatchlings will remain in their underground nest over the winter, enduring freezing temperatures. Studies reported by Ducks Unlimited Canada show that hibernating hatchlings tolerate and recover from having over 50% of their body water frozen and their heart beat, blood flow and breathing stopped.
Not every nest is successfully hatched, as up to 90% of all turtle nests are lost to predators. Freshly laid eggs are dug up and consumed, a Raven has found this nest. He searches for more and flips the laying turtles up side down for the eggs, before they can be buried. Carnivorous coyotes and skunks also prey on the unguarded nests, yet the prey too, are omniverous themselves. And someone else has arrived in the marsh, who is quite partial to turtle eggs. He has no difficultly at all digging up the eggs, hole, after hole. Raise your hand if you’re a nest robber!
Another nest lost.
Activity will stir in this nesting ground earlier than normal, if temperatures are above average this spring. The young turtles will dig an opening out of their underground nests over several days, then tiny faces start to emerge. Bravely, the baby turtles each leave the safety of their dry nests and head towards the water. They were eggs last year and now are almost a year old. How do they know which direction to travel to the water? Will they make it to the water safely? Even in the water they are never safe. No matter what size the Western Painted turtles are, they remain a delicacy enjoyed by Otters, and our ringed night time bandit, especially enjoys fresh dug up eggs.
The first young hatchling of last year, was right out the front door on May 2nd. Tiny, dusty, and no doubt hungry. I looked around but did not find the nest, there will be more young to arrive. The temperatures changed and the next day it snowed lightly, and is still snowing at the higher elevations. This year as we progress through the spring and early summer, more and more hatchlings will find their way to the marsh and the safety of the water.
First Day Out
Nothing like the water in the Shuswap area. His first time in the water and he seems to be getting the idea. Maybe a little bit cold this morning, but it will warm up by noon. Once you’re in, it’s pretty nice. Sure gets rid of the dust. You are not alone in there little Western Painted Turtle. You have generations of family in this marsh. Don’t forget to look up.
Good Swimmer.
And away he goes, fast as the wind. Good swimmer already. He is at home, and will stay in this three foot by three foot area of the marsh for the first month. He practices to be part of his surroundings. He floats very well and can stay very still too. It will take some looking to find him. Time to have a rest. First day in the water and he knows his way around, figured out how to swim and ate some small water bugs.
Camouflage
Every turtle must learn the art of camouflage and patience. Knowing when to be still and disappear into his wetland surroundings, skills known to the oldest turtles. When he is old enough and big enough to climb onto logs with the other turtles, he will learn more than he could ever image.
What’s next?
Like all the other toothless slow moving reptiles I know, it seems only natural to have an afternoon nap. In the quiet of the bulrush, he slept. I can no longer worry about him. I can not be watching over him, or worry that he may get stuck on a leaf or flip upside down. He is brave and successful on his own now. But I will wait and watch over him while he has his first sleep. Just for a little while, he is so small and has such a gentle little spirit.
First Sleep in the Marsh
You can see the egg tooth on this little hatchling, which he used to break open the egg he was inside of. Be aware little friend, you are not the only hungry one in the marsh. He will not be in the deep water just yet, although his family is there. He will join them one day. For now he will stay in the shallow water. A very shining day in the marsh with a wonderful log to enjoy the sunshine on with friends and family all around. Did somebody say Turtle Wax?
Where is everybody?
Come on out of the mud and see what is going on. Really enjoying the Shuswap weather and the clean clear water. Floating, and thinking about dinner in the tadpole school. Or to rephrase, dinner is the tadpole school. Worms, small fish or plant matter, might be the main course of the day instead.
Deciding Dinner
Winter hibernation over and when the sun comes out, everybody in the neighborhood heads for the closest log. Stories to share, bugs to eat and the life of the turtle in the Shuswap is pretty good. No soup makers here, basking has begun and it’s really nice not to be buried in the mud anymore. Well until late next fall anyway.
Log in
Other friends drop in that you haven’t seen since last year, made some new friends this year too. Always social, the turtles sun together, company is always welcome. With the slightest noise and they all disappear into the water. Turtle watching or waiting is a slow going process. A very quiet process if the turtles are in the water. They have a lot of patience and usually are very talented in out waiting me.
Truly wild reptiles, and should always live wild and free as such. Please do not keep them as pets. They must live in their own habitat to be healthy, happy and at home. We all must, please help the ones that can’t.
Goodbye Friend
Until next time!
Good bye from Shuswap Lake Photos.
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