05/28/2026
World Turtle Day reference card. Five eastern species. How to identify. How to help. When to call.
PAINTED TURTLE — Smooth, flat shell. Red and yellow markings on head and neck. Yellow stripes. Basking on logs. Cross roads May-June for nesting. Move across road in direction of travel if safe. 🌿
SNAPPING TURTLE — Large, rough shell. Spiked tail. Aggressive on land (can't retract into shell). DO NOT pick up by tail (damages spine). Slide flat object underneath or grip shell behind rear legs. Always move in direction of travel.
EASTERN BOX TURTLE — High-domed shell with yellow/orange blotches. Hinged plastron — can seal completely. Terrestrial. DO NOT put in water (they can drown in deep water). DO NOT relocate — they spend entire lives in a home range of roughly 250 yards.
RED-EARED SLIDER — Red or orange stripe behind each eye. Invasive pet release. If found in a park pond, the population is established. DO NOT release pet turtles into the wild.
WOOD TURTLE — Orange on neck and legs. Rough, sculpted shell plates. Rare. State-listed in nearly every state. If found crossing a road, help it across and report the sighting to your state wildlife agency.
🐾 Universal protocol:
- Always move a turtle in the direction it was heading
- Never relocate to a "better" spot — the turtle will try to return
- Injured turtle with a cracked shell → contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator (turtles can survive shell injuries with veterinary care)
- A turtle digging a hole in your lawn = nesting female. Leave the site undisturbed.
