Adult painted turtles Chrysemys picta begin active foraging usually in March or early April. Since winter has held on strongly until now, we only saw the first turtle today when the sun was shining and temperature is in the 60's F.
Shortly after awaking from winter, courtship begins. If they laid clutches of eggs last fall, the little hatched turtles probably over-wintered in the nest. Now they emerge and instinctively seek the security of water in the pond.
Today, the Spring Peepers are singing too!
