Spotted Turtle - Scooter

Spotted Turtles are small aquatic turtles that have a smooth dark carapace with a variable amount of bright yellow spots. The head, neck and legs are black with yellow spots on top and orange or pinkish underneath. Adults range from 3.5-5 inches (9-12.7 cm). They have been recorded in most of the lower peninsula except in northeast counties and the northern tip of the thumb, but are most common in the southwest corner of the lower peninsula, but even here they are somewhat rare and confined to local colonies. Spotted Turtles inhabit small ponds, bogs, sphagnum seeps and grassy marshes. They require clean, shallow water with a muddy bottom and ample aquatic vegetation. These turtles are listed as threatened in the MI DNR because of population decrease due to things like habitat loss and being collected from the wild to be sold as pets. 

Spotted Turtles are more active in cooler months and are rarely seen during the summer months. Not only are they less active in hot weather but dense vegetation also helps them stay hidden. Shy and retiring, they very rarely bite in self-defense. They eat a variety of small animals and plants including insects, snails, worms, slugs, crayfish, tadpoles, duckweed, algae and fruit. Most food is taken and eaten underwater. In June, females lay 2-7 elliptical, soft-shelled eggs in open areas. Incubation takes 48-53 days depending on temperature and humidity. If eggs are laid late in the summer, the nest may overwinter and hatch the next spring. Hatchlings usually have a dark carapace with one yellow spot per scute, but sometimes they lack spots on their shells but almost always have spots on their heads. 

Scooter is Sarett Nature Center’s resident Spotted Turtle; we got him from a breeder in 2009. He is utilized in many of our education programs and can be a highlight as his species is threatened; he assists us in helping people understand how important it is to protect wild spaces like Sarett. Scooter enjoys swimming around his tank and can regularly be seen climbing on his filter, biting at the water stream, and crawling on the bottom of the tank hanging out with his “girlfriend” (a shapely rock whom he fancies). He has a bridge to bask on and a small platform filled with sphagnum moss. Sarett Nature Center has a Scientific Collector’s Permit issued by the DNR to allow for collection and possession of these animals for educational purposes.