This, turtle was in our yard the other day. With the hours of daylight increasing and the temperatures rising, they are ready to come out of hibernation and mate. We're guessing this 10" turtle was a male; the way he was scooting along with determination, he was probably in search of a mate. He looks like an older turtle, the way the rings on his back are growing together. Remember to only touch turtles if they need to be scooted out of the road and to keep them oriented to the direction they were headed. Do be mindful they can bite. Here is a starter page for identifying turtles in North Carolina. At first we thought this was an Eastern box turtle, but it seems a little flat and larger than most box turtles. Do you know? If so, please let us know.
Spring is an exciting time for wildlife aficionados. It is also time you will see snakes. There is a Facebook group NC Snake Identification & Education. You can have someone identify the type of snake you see with a photo and the name of the area it was found. Many people comment that they are not as afraid of snakes as a result of belonging to this page. If there are little ones in your life, it is fun to keep a wildlife journal, documenting what you see throughout the spring and summer. The more you walk in wooded areas, the more you will see. The more natural areas you have in your yard, the more you will see. If you really want to animal watch in Greensboro and in North Carolina, here is a good place to start learning.
Quite a fellow!
Posted by: William Kendall | Tuesday, May 09, 2023 at 08:09 PM