Turtle Activity

I don’t often find mating turtles, but this is the second pair I’ve seen this month.  Their breeding season runs from mid-spring, through summer and into mid-fall.  I’m not sure I would describe that as an actual breeding season.  It seems that they are liable to mate anytime they’re not hibernating.

By the time I spot a turtle pair, they’ve already seen me.  The typical result is for the male to lose his balance and end up on this side. 

Eastern Box Turtles use no mating grounds or special calls or scents to aid in finding a mate.  They have to take advantage of chance encounters.  Fortunately, females can produce fertile eggs for several seasons after a successful mating.

This pair was still in the preliminary stages, so I backed away and gave them some privacy.  I hope to be seeing some of their offspring next year.

About one hundred feet into the woods from the mating pair was a third turtle.  This female was moving away from the pair and has no connection to them other than being of the same species.

I particularly liked her facial markings.  She appears to have been painted up for battle.