There’s a brief window twice each year — in early spring and again in autumn — when I I often spot baby turtle hatchlings in need of help. I find them sitting in the middle of the road or very slowly trying to make their way across. I always stop to carry them to safety. Most are typically shy, remaining completely still in my hand. But every now and then, I meet one that’s bursting with energy and determination.
Here is one especially squirmy painted turtle baby that kept trying to wriggle free as I carried it across the street to the pond. 💛 Watch as I gently release the hatchling, see it swim away, and get a peaceful glimpse of the pond it now calls home. 🌿💦
Did You Know?
Painted turtles in New England have a fascinating life cycle. They typically hatch in late August to September. Interestingly, whether a clutch emerges in late summer/fall or waits until spring often depends on environmental factors like temperature, nest conditions, and soil moisture. Some clutches emerge and head to the water in late summer or fall, while others wait until the following spring to begin their journey. The entire clutch needs to emerge together as a group, since it takes the combined effort of all the hatchlings to dig out of the nest and reach the surface.
Jackie Foster Art 