Painted Turtle

The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) is one of the two turtle species known to reside within Lac Seul.  The second one, Canada’s largest freshwater turtle, is the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine).  The “snapper” is typically 30-40 cm in length but some grow up to 50 cm in length!  The painted turtle, although smaller in size (approximately 13-25 cm in length), is seen more frequently around Lac Seul.  Based on fossil records the painted turtle has been in existence for about 15 million years.

There are four subspecies of painted turtle (the eastern, midland, southern and western) with the western being the largest of these and the one present on Lac Seul.  The painted turtle breeds in both spring and autumn.  This is likely the reason that I saw such a large grouping of turtles (over 20) clustered together in the water of a shallow, muddy bay in late May while out boating on the lake. 

In late spring to mid-summer the females leave the water and move inland away from the shoreline to dig nests to lay eggs in sandy or gravelly soils.  During this period (typically in June) it is common to see painted turtles on or along the highway into and through the community of Hudson.  Painted turtles frequently visit or crawl through my yard as they seek out a suitable nesting location for their eggs.  After an incubation period of about 72 to 80 days the eggs hatch when the young turtles break through the shell using a projection of its jaw called the egg tooth.  However, there is a high rate of turtle egg consumption by predators such as crows, snakes and foxes.

Painted turtles are omnivores with a diet consisting of algae and aquatic vegetation as well as insects, crustaceans and small fish.  They are cold blooded reptiles so they are only able to regulate their internal temperature through use of the environment.  Consequently, these turtles spend several hours a day basking in the sun for warmth.  Painted turtles live to an average age of about 55 years.