Oregon Turtles
Northwestern Pond Turtle
Description:
- Lacks bright coloration on bottom shell which is usually a creamy yellow with some dark blotches
- Top shell ranges in color from dark brown to olive
- Head and legs are dark brown to olive
- Grows up to 10 inches long
Habitat:
- Inhabits a variety of aquatic habitats, including; ponds, rivers, reservoirs, streams, seasonal wetlands, and flooded gravel pits
- Not fully aquatic; may spend part of the year, including winter months, in upland forests
- May bask on rocks and boulders
- Uses underwater hiding places such as undercut stream banks, mud substrates, logs, and dense patches of aquatic plants to avoid predators
Status:
Range:
- Primarily found west of the Cascades in the Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue, and Klamath River drainages
