Hello, Neighbor!

Spring time is a busy part of the year for the turtles living in North and South Center lakes. The turtles of Minnesota can live in several different types of habitat, including marshes, rivers, and lakes. There are a few different species living in area lakes. The Painted Turtle, also known as the Mud Turtle, is known for its flat back, green color, and bright yellow stripes on its body. The Spiny Soft Shell Turtle is a more muted gray-like color, with "spines", or bumps on the shell. These two can commonly be seen sunning themselves on logs. The Snapper Turtle is widely known as it can grow to be quite large.

Though turtles can live many places, different species prefers certain living conditions. Good water quality and plentiful habitats will encourage populations to grow and remain healthy. While the neighborhood turtles may be on the move, their territories change little each year. If you see a turtle on the move, it is best to leave it alone and let it complete the journey it knows. If a turtle is on the road, you should break or swerve only if it is safe to do so for all traffic. Avoid touching all wildlife if possible. If you absolutely must pick up a turtle, always pick it up by the shell, not the tail. Don't change it's direction, just move it over it's obstacle. And remember, many turtles can bite!

For more information, visit the here: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/turtle_poster.pdf