first turtle of Spring

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!

baby snapping turtle

We found this baby Snapping Turtle on a street curb in the neighborhood. We relocated it to the wetland around the pond, hoping it would find enough to eat there.  Snapping Turtles Chelydra serpentina eat water plants as well as insects, worms, snails, small fish, and anything edible that it can find. 

 

tiny toad

On a patch of gravel a toad, the size of a quarter coin, was hunting for breakfast among the spider webs.