North American Wood Turtle

(Clemmys insculpta)

The wood turtle comes from Nova Scotia south to northern Virginia and west through southern Ontario and New York to northeastern Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota, and northeastern Iowa.

 

Males have a longer, thicker tail with the vent posterior to the rim of the carapace, a concave plastron with a deep end notch, and prominent scales on the anterior surface of the forelimbs.

 

Next to box turtles, and gopher tortoises, the wood turtle is the most terrestrial North American turtle.  It is found in woods, woodland bogs, and marshy fields.  It is felt by some that this is the most intelligent of all turtles.  I personally know that they are great escape artists! 

 

These are very active turtles and should be provided plenty of space both in their terrestrial and water areas.  They are principally found in moving water and rarely found in static water.  For this reason, you should have a very good filtration system in their water area. 

 

Wood turtles eat a wide variety of plant and animal matter.  They will take worms, snails, tadpoles, as well as fruits and veggies, including algae, moss, and grass.  They will eat in both water and on land.  They enjoy basking in the early morning hours and soaking in water during the heat of the day.  Wood turtles hibernate during the winter months in the mud or bottom of a pond.  Wood turtles have great personalities and will beg for food from their keepers.