The Western Pond Turtle is a small, aquatic reptile that is found in the Western United States and parts of Canada. It is a freshwater turtle that inhabits ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams. The Western Pond Turtle is a dark olive green or brown colour with a yellow or cream underside. They have a smooth carapace (upper shell) and their head and limbs are small and delicate-looking.
The Western Pond Turtle is a shy and secretive creature that is most active at dawn and dusk. They spend most of their time underwater, where they feed on aquatic plants, insects, crayfish, and other small creatures. They can also stay submerged for long periods of time by using their impressive lung capacity.
Western Pond Turtles hibernate during the cold winter months, burrowing into the mud at the bottom of a pond or lake. In the spring, they emerge and begin to breed. The female Western Pond Turtle lays her eggs in a shallow hole she digs in the ground, and then covers them over with soil. The eggs hatch after about two months, and the young turtles spend the summer growing and maturing before winter sets in again.