72 Microseasons of the Pacific Northwest

The western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) is the only painted turtle native to the Pacific Northwest and one of the few native freshwater turtles in the region. After months of near-inactivity in cold water, these reptiles become conspicuous in late May as they haul out onto logs, rocks, and muddy banks to bask in the afternoon sun. The combination of warm air, abundant insects, and long days makes this the most reliably active and visible period of the entire year for the species. Basking turtles are easy to identify: the olive-to-dark-green shell is decorated with red and yellow markings along the margins, and the neck and legs show bright yellow-and-red striping. Groups of five to ten individuals are commonly seen piled onto a single log over a pond or slow backwater, stacked nearly on top of one another when basking spots are scarce. They are wary — slide carefully down a bank or stop walking well before you reach the water's edge, as any vibration will send them splashing in. In the Puget Sound lowlands, look for painted turtles at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Clark County), the Black River area near Renton, Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland, and wetlands throughout the Chehalis River system. On southeastern Vancouver Island, several lowland lake systems near Victoria and Nanaimo support populations. In the Interior Valleys, the Willamette River oxbows near Corvallis and Eugene, Fern Ridge Reservoir, and the lower Tualatin River all harbor populations. Courtship and mating occur through May and June in shallow water, making this a productive period for behavioral observation as well as simple sightings.