Turtle spotting: Where there’s one, there’s likely more
May 9, 2025 | By Shawnee Perry | Correspondent 
Painted turtles sunning themselves en masse. Photo by Shawnee Perry
As soon as the ice is off the pond, I start looking for turtles. In this Moretown pond, the most common species to spot are painted turtles and snapping turtles. There's no mistaking the two, although they do spend some early sunny days sharing the same space.
This year, the turtles began appearing in mid-April – after the ice melted, earlier than the wood frogs began their spring chorus. At first, there were just a few painted turtles, clustered together and facing the sun on the far shoreline.
Over the years, I’ve learned that when it comes to painted turtles, spotting one often means there are many more nearby. My timing was perfect on that first mid-April day, and I was able to watch sluggish, mud-covered turtles emerging from the water, likely on their first trip ashore since last fall.
April through late May is an excellent time for turtle spotting, as the cattails and other plants that normally cover their basking sites haven’t yet grown enough to obstruct the low view. Similarly, shoreline vegetation is less likely to impede prime viewing. Painted turtle shells reflect light when wet, creating a shine that is easy to pick out once you know what to look for.
This pond is also home to two of the largest snapping turtles I’ve ever encountered. They seldom appear together, but often enough for me to be certain both are present. Floating stoically in the middle of the pond, these two are a formidable presence. This year, I was fortunate to see one of the snappers sharing the shore with some painted turtles. Otherwise, the only time I’ve observed them on land is during the egg-laying season.
The snappers will follow other pond life in the water. I’ve witnessed them trailing Canada geese and mallards, and one quiet evening, I watched a beaver being stalked around the pond. Most of the ducks and geese are just passing through – snapping turtles pose a real threat to their young.
A large snapping turtle pops its head up in the middle of the pond. Unlike the painted turtles, the snapping turtles often float out in the pond, sunning themselves. Photo by Shawnee Perry
In a few weeks, turtles will begin laying their eggs. Mature female turtles will leave the safety of the shoreline and venture to some surprisingly exposed locations. This is why it’s important to keep an eye out for turtles as you travel locally. If you want to help a turtle cross a road, handle them gently, keeping them low to the ground, belly down. Of course, always prioritize your own safety from traffic! Always move a turtle in the direction it was traveling to help it on its way. Snapping turtles will defend themselves – it’s best to leave the larger ones alone unless they are in obvious danger.
A painted turtle and a snapping turtle sunning themselves. on the edge of the pond. Photo by Shawnee Perry
Turtle spotting has become one of my favorite spring activities. It’s a wonderful way to hone observational skills while waiting for the warblers to return. It’s not too late to take a turtle walk in your own wetland area. Walk quietly and slowly, scanning the shoreline and any mounds or “islands.” Look for the shine of a shell, and you might just be lucky enough to spot a painted turtle.
Remember, where there’s one, there are likely more. Keep looking!
Shawnee Perry lives in Duxbury and enjoys spotting wildlife everywhere she goes.