6/13/11 – The Western Painted Turtle is a fairly common sight in the BWCAW. You will most often find them lounging on an exposed log on warm sunny days during the summer. In mid June, pregnant females leave the water and dig holes in the sand to lay their eggs. Due to the rugged terrain here, many turtles lay their eggs on the soft shoulder of dirt roads. If you’re on a dirt road in canoe country from the mid to late June, watch out for mother turtles!

With a shell size of about 6 inches, this turtle may be 25 years old.