You've had a lot of rain when a Red Eared Slider turtle shows up in the barn lot! My husband was cleaning up after the latest storm when he spotted this not-so-little guy meandering around. We have lots of red ears in the pond, but none has ever ventured (or floated) near the house. Isn't he cute?
Wouldn`t be bad creatures if they didn`t eat our fish. I had one in the flower bed yesterday. They are laying eggs now.
Looks as though he/she was taking a nap until the storm passed Jane. Hope it found its way back to the pond OK.
Marling glad to know that you are OK with all the flooding you have been having in Texas. Your Turtle looks a lot like our Painted Turtles we have in Wis. He or she is a cutie.
Jane--those turtles in your pond...did you buy them in a dime store and then set them free when they were older? I did not know those jewels were native to TX. I found your posting interesting.
Goodness no we didn't buy them! We would have gone broke buying turtles, judging from the number we have. Texas is blessed with a lot of native wildlife, including Red Eared Sliders. Here are a few lined up sunbathing. A turtle's life is not a hard one around here!
They are the same kind we used to buy at the dime stores sometimes with painted shells. They are native to Texas and the rest of the south. Have no idea how far north their range is.
Mart, the local fairs/carnivals used to have the painted turtles as prizes, or to be purchased. Thank heavens we've stopped that barbaric practice! According to my Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas, Red Ears are all over the states--northwest, southwest, northeast, southeast. They seem to be highly adaptable, as well as very cute!
Yikes I just googled the Red Eared turtle, and on Wikipedia it said that they are listed in the top 100 of invasive species. It said because they where sold in pet stores many years ago across the United States. Then when those who bought them got tired of them, they set them free in local ponds. But because they have the ability to out competed other native species they became and invasive. Just another example of man stupidity.
I had no idea that they were natiive to Texas. I had the impression that they were more tropical...like in Florida 'r something. Thanks for the info and pics.
We have them here too. In fact, the red-eared slider is the most common non-native species of turtle found in Ontario.
Yup Netty that is why it is considered and invasive species. It is non-native to your area and has probably out competed the other native turtles. I wonder if the Fish and Game department has a notice for eradication of them in your area. Just a thought.
