#wild herps

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SUBMISSION: This little snapper was in my neighbors window well this morning! We brought her (assuming it’s a she bc egg season) back to the swamp and she seemed pretty happy to get back into the water. My neighbors have little kids, and they’re smart and listen to me, but their one friend kept putting his face super close to the turtle. Luckily this one wasn’t very defensive, bc he was close enough to take a bite to the nose- I had to tell him that it would bite his nose off to get him to back off lmfao. I’m always super happy to see snappers so this made my day!

What a beautiful lady! I love common snappers so, so much. They’re some of my favorite turtles. I’m so glad you were able to help this girl in her journey.

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SUBMISSION: I’m kinda confused? Is this guy just a weird painted turtle? Cus I’ve never seen one with coloring like this??? It was so pretty but I’m confused lmao

I think it’s still a Western painted turtle? Could be some genetic weirdness causing the strange coloration or it could be staining. Sometimes turtles that live in tannin rich waters will get staining on their shells over time causing some odd-looking coloration. But I looked up other turtles found in your state and there aren’t any that look like that that I could find.

Definitely an interesting find!

EDIT: I looked it up and it appears that Illinois is right where Midland and Western painted turtle ranges intersect. So this could also be some kind of integrade between the subspecies where the different genes for plastron coloration interacted weirdly?

[the-awkward-turt]

Got a frantic call over the radio that there was a snake on the lawn that needed to be moved so they could mow. So I got to meet the world's angriest garter snake (not sure what species).

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SUBMISSION: I also found this other guy and I took the most wonderful selfie with it I’m laughing so hard. Two turtles, right near each other, in one day! I’m shook!

You have clearly been blessed by the turtle gods! What good luck! And what a handsome selfie partner!