A Three Turtle Day

Day 202: I'm going to be quoting a lot from the Washington Herp Atlas here because I know little or nothing about herps. Initially, I was excited about having seen turtles while I was out in the kayak today, but in researching the exact species, I discovered that this is a non-native Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta), easily identified by the red patch just behind the eye. The males have long claws, and in fact of the three specimens I photographed, two were male. I believe the one in this photo is female.

Native to the eastern part of the country, Pond Sliders probably got their toehold in Washington when someone released pet turtles into the wild or they escaped captivity. They were commonly available in pet stores until 1975 when concern over children contracting salmonella stopped their sale. That said, the Herp Atlas database says that the species may be unsuited to our climate because notable die-offs involving large numbers of Trachemys have occurred in some areas. Although these turtles do compete with native species, there is no plan in place currently to remove them from Washington waters.

I think I need to get up on the other side of the bed. I seem to be on a binge of finding things I wish I hadn't found.

Share The Trail

Day 161: Spring has sprung, and that means the herps and amphibians will be out enjoying the warmer weather just like the rest of us who like to take walks on the Bud Blancher Trail. This little Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea) was going hell-bent-for-leather across the path and only paused long enough for me to get a photo. Fairly common in the Pacific Northwest, this lizard prefers the damp forest, but is frequently found around house foundations, under flower pots or sheltering beneath buckets, birdbaths, trash bins or any other object which provides a hideout. I usually find one or two inside the house every year, sometimes even in my kitchen sink. Like many other lizards, Northern Alligator is able to regrow its tail, a process well into development on this specimen.

Anything For A Friend

Day 201: My little friend here came within an inch of having his tail shortened radically by the lawn mower. At the risk of having him return to the same spot while I made another circuit, I stopped what I was doing, picked him up and transported him to the safety of the begonia pot on the front steps. It took a few minutes to gain his confidence. He was breathing hard and fast, tongue flicking in and out as he attempted to scent my purpose. Once he realized I meant him no harm, he was perfectly willing to sign a model release and in fact was so grateful for the reprieve from sectioning that he didn't bother to ask for a copy of the contract for his lawyer to review.

We have three varieties of Garter Snake in western Washington which can be told apart by counting the scales at certain points on their bodies. Western Terrestrial Snakes typically have 19 or 21 scales at mid-body, 8 upper labial scales and 10 lower labial scales.Needless to say, I did not wish to subject my friend to the indignity of a scale count, not after what he'd already been through.

Update: I am reasonably certain that Mr. Snake is a Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides).