Bob the Eastern Painted Turtle
About Eastern Painted Turtles
Size: Range from 4.5 - 8 inches in length with females being larger than males
Lifespan: Average lifespan is 30 - 40 years, but the oldest known painted turtle lived to be more than 60 years old!
Diet: Painted turtles are omnivores. They eat a variety of aquatic plants, algae and animal matter
Reproduction: Maturity and readiness to reproduce are more dependent on size than age in painted turtles. Males have elongated front claws to assist in the mating process. Females can lay up to five clutches of eggs per season with up to 20 eggs or more per clutch!
Range: Painted turtles spend most of their lives in water or basking near the water’s edge. They can be found across the North and Mid Eastern U.S. in ponds, marshes and shallow lakes.
Other Facts: Painted turtles are some of the most researched turtle species in the world. There are four different types of painted turtles: Eastern, Midland, Southern and Western. Both the Eastern and Midland Painted Turtles are native to Pennsylvania. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the number one threats to wild painted turtle populations.
Hatched: Unknown
Arrived at WSWC: July 26, 2021
Sex: Male
Found attempting to cross the street in Mount Joy, PA, in July 2021, Bob the Eastern Painted Turtle arrived at the wildlife center with two traumatically amputated feet. Both his front left and hind right foot were missing below the knee. The injuries were likely caused by a predator. While Bob doesn’t let his handicap slow him down in the water, he is no longer able to safely walk on land and cannot be released back into the wild. With the help of a specially adapted enclosure, he will remain an educational ambassador for his species at the wildlife center.