2 Blandings Turtles spotted in our Pond

wisconsin dnr link

It can be easily identified by the bright yellow underside of its neck.

Blanding's turtle is unique because, unlike most turtles, it can swallow food both in and out of the water.

The Blanding's turtle is semi-aquatic. It prefers open, grassy marshes containing shallow water, but it will, on occasion, move to ground adjacent to water to forage or bask in the sun.

Legal Status in Wisconsin: Threatened

My wife and I spotted 2 Blandings turtles, farely large in size, perhaps 8-10 inches, sitting on logs in our pond Sunday. I saw one again Monday evening. They are a threatened species in Wisconsin, so it was very exciting to see them mixed in with our pond's painted turtles & snappers as spring starts.