Wood Turtle
(Clemmys insculpta)
Photo Courtesy of World Chelonia Trust
The Wood Turtle is 5 - 9 inches in length. Each scute on the carapace shows growth rings forming irregular pyramids on the brown carapace. The plastron is usually yellow with black blotches. The neck and forelimbs are reddish in color. Males have a concave plastron and a thick tail.
Mating occurs in spring with eggs laid in May to June. Each clutch contains 6 - 8 eggs (sometimes as many as 18) that are oval and soft. Hatchlings emerge in September to October and will often over-winter in the nest.
Wood turtles can be found in streams, bogs, marshes and farm country. They can be found feeding on snails, slugs, insects and other invertebrates. They will also eat wild fruit. The are excellent climbers and have been reported to have climbed a 6 foot chain link fence.