Tag Archives: Western Pond Turtle

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Jill Larsen was kayaking on the Gualala River. She wrote, "We saw this sunbathing turtle on the wonderfully full Gualala River while kayaking Memorial Day weekend.”

What Jill saw was a Western Pond Turtle, a shy resident of the river. You have to be quiet to have a sighting of one of these native turtles, otherwise your sighting will consist of ripples in the river, showing where the turtle dove.

Thanks to Jill for allowing me to share her photo with you here. We are having a foggy, cool day on the Mendonoma Coast today.

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Western Pond Turtles can occasionally be seen along the Gualala River. They are quite shy so often the only sighting is the ring of circles where the turtle just disappeared in the water. Will Ericson recently saw and photographed one.

Western Pond Turtle by Will Ericson A Western Pond Turtle by Will EricsonThese turtles are only found on the West Coast of the United States and Mexico, from Washington State to northern Baja California. They eat a wide variety of food, including plants, insects, and fish.

Thanks to Will for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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As I mentioned yesterday, the sandbar has once again closed the Gualala River off to the Pacific Ocean. This creates ideal kayaking conditions. Karen Tracy recently took to the water and she saw many beautiful sightings.

Kayaking in the Gualala River by Karen Tracy

It looks idyllic, doesn't it?! As Karen meandered up the river, she came across at Great Blue Heron perched on a branch.

Great Blue Heron along the Gualala River by Karen Tracy

And a Western Pond Turtle sunning itself on a log - a wonderful sighting!

Western Pond Turtle in the Gualala River by Karen Tracy

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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Peter Baye and Will Ericson were exploring the newly exposed river bed of the Gualala River when they spotted a juvenile Western Pond Turtle.

A juvenile Western Pond Turtle by Peter Baye Western Pond turtle in Gualala River by Peter Baye

This is the first juvenile that Peter has seen in quite some time, good news as these turtle are on the endangered species list.

Western Pond Turtles favor a habitat with boulders and logs where they can sun themselves. They are very wary of people. Peter tells me he is usually made aware of one of these turtles' presence by hearing the sound of the turtle disappearing into the water. This little guy must have wondered what happened to the water. It was walking across the newly exposed stream bed when Peter and Will noticed it.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here. May there be many more juvenile Pond Turtles in the Gualala River!

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It is rare to see a Western Pond Turtle. They are very shy and usually found near or in a river. Peter Baye came across one crossing a road on a very warm day.

Western Pond Turtle crossing the road by Peter Baye

Peter was concerned that the turtle would get harmed by a passing car. He picked it up, planning to take it to the riverbank...and the turtle peed, probably in fright.

Western Pond turtle peeing by Peter Baye

Peter returned the turtle to one of the forks of the Gualala River. This is what it looks like in its usual habit, photo also taken by Peter.

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Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.