Turtles are not something I normally see or photograph so I was pretty happy to have spotted this handsome creature this past weekend.
With temperatures here on the Colorado Front Range hitting record-setting territory, this guy (or gal) clearly decided it was time to wake from hibernation and enjoy the heat. It didn’t really “do” much beyond sit and enjoy the sun but that was fine by me.
Painted turtles are the most widespread turtle in North America. They can be found in 45 of the 50 states as well as 8 of the 10 Canadian provinces stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic. They do usually hibernate, sometimes for as long as six months in the colder climates.
