Hello Everyone:
Ah, spring has finally arrived and looks to be here to stay. It has been a very cold winter which has slowed local turtle activity greatly (duh, but usually in Florida it never gets cold enough to slow them down much). Things are all sunshine and warmth now so it's time to get back out into the wilds to check out the activity.
I saw a picture from a small local paper showing five adult turtles (Sliders, either Peninsula or red-Bellies) and two small Alligators sunning themselves after the hard winter. They all looked none the worst for wear. then it got colder again for another ten days or so.
In early April they opened a new park near where I live and I got some great video of a large female Peninsular Cooter (Pseudemys floridana peninsularis) just floating on the surface near a boardwalk. The turtle was easily 12-14" straight line measurement. She showed no signs of fear for all the people gawking at her so that was pretty cool. She looked very good so it was obvious the cold winter didn't bother her either.
A few days later I returned to the park with my Daughter and Grandson. There was another turtle at another point in the lake. This one was smaller but I never got a good look at it because it disappeared under the water too quick. I'll see it another day.
On the way home from the park I drove by a creek near the house that I used to frequent as a youth. There on the bank of the creek sat four very healthy Sliders/Cooters soaking up the warm, early afternoon sun. It was about !:30 P.M. It was a nice way to close out the day "Turtle Watching."
Yep, spring is here and I look forward to lots of turtle activity.
Have a Great Day!!!
