Calling all turtle ID experts.

[Allegheny Tom]

This critter just came walking by my deck. Its not a box turtle, right? Seems flatter, and larger than any box that I've ever seen, and there is no hinge on the belly shell.
Mouse trap is for size comparison.

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[Nutterbuster]

Some species of slider. We have approximately 50 bazillion of them on the river behind my house. She's probably on the move looking for a place to lay her eggs.

 

[redhawk]

agree with nutter

 

[jryser]

Yellow bellied, pond, or Cumberland slider - depends on neck pattern colors!


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[Allegheny Tom]

I looked it up. Its a wood turtle. Species of concern in PA.

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[Nutterbuster]

Just Googled "wood turtle." Neat little critter. The undershell pattern and reddish limb color are pretty unique. We definitely don't have those here.

Always cool to see something new! We have red-eared sliders, which are endangered enough that they built a "turtle fence" to keep them off the causeway. Like most DCNR projects, I admire the intent while questioning the outcome. The fence keeps them from getting ran over when they go looking for nesting, but it also keeps them confined to areas that are too wet in many cases.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

PA Fish Comm website says males have concave belly shells.
Looks like this was a male.

 

[jbogg]

That’s cool. So is this some sort of aquatic turtle like a slider! Other than box turtles and gopher tortoise’s down here in GA I am not aware of many land dwellers.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

That’s cool. So is this some sort of aquatic turtle like a slider! Other than box turtles and gopher tortoise’s down here in GA I am not aware of many land dwellers.

Semi terrestrial. Only box turtles are more terrestrial in PA. Likes water but at home on land, too.
Hibernates in water.

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[Holt]

That's cool! I have never found one of those. Pretty sure they are down here in MD, but pretty rare. Good find!

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[Allegheny Tom]

That's cool! I have never found one of those. Pretty sure they are down here in MD, but pretty rare. Good find!

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The Pa Fish comm description I read said PA is at the Southern end of their range. Not sure if MD has them or not.
I almost didn't get to see him. My phone needed to be put on the charger which was plugged in beside the door to my deck. When I went to the charger, I glanced out the door and saw him cruising by my deck. If my battery wouldn't have needed charged, I would not have seen him. I was lucky.

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