Marston the Western Painted Turtle
Hatched: Unknown
Arrived at WSWC: August 22, 2021
Sex: Male
Marston arrived at the wildlife center in August 2021 as a dumped pet. He is a Western Painted Turtle, normally found west of the Mississippi River. Western Painted Turtles are very similar to the Eastern and Midland Painted Turtles that we have in Pennsylvania but do not belong in our freshwater ecosystems. Marston had a shell injury upon arrival at the wildlife center which has since healed. Now, he can share his story of survival and the dangers of letting pets go in the wild.
Marston left our team of ambassadors in Summer 2024.
About Western 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 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 per clutch!
Range: Painted turtles spend most of their lives in water or basking near the water’s edge. Western Painted Turtles are normally found in the Mid-West U.S., west of the Mississippi River.
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.
