Turtles, too!

Geese and mallards weren't the only wildlife in the Dan River.  Granny Beth spotted these guys on the riverbank.  These, I think, are painted turtles.  Paints have red or yellow stripes down the side of their heads and have webbed feet (most turtles don't have webbed feet), so that's why I think these are Paints.

Here's six more sunning on a log.

And four on a rock.

Last but not least, a swimmer.

For my young homeschooling readers (or anyone that's interested), go to http://www.animalspot.net/painted-turtle.html for more information on Painted Turtles.  What do they eat?  Do they hibernate?  How long have they been around?  How many different kinds are there?

Baby and juvenile painted turtles have a hard time surviving.  According to the website, Most frequent predators of juvenile turtles and eggs of these turtles are crows, garter snakes, chipmunks, grey squirrels, groundhogs, badgers, raccoons, catfish, water bugs, bullfrogs, bass, snapping turtles, rice rats, herons, weasels, minks, muskrats, foxes ....

Who knew chipmunks were predators!!!

One of our sons sent us this picture just yesterday of a baby turtle he caught north of Dallas yesterday.  The kids and I have always taken in injured animals of every kind, and he has taken to raising turtles.  Just about every kind of critter you can image has found a home with him and his family.  He's even adopted a rescued Great Dane, and he's the one that found our horse and donkey!  Big or small, we love 'em all!