Endangered (WA); Species of Special Concern (CA); Sensitive/Critical (OR)

(biodiverisity.org)

Proposal to be listed under the Endangered Species Act

(fws.gov)

They are at risk from disease, alterations and destruction of their habitats, as well as competition or predation from invasive species like bullfrogs and introduced species such as bass (fws.gov).

Their range extends from Puget Sound lowlands in Washington to western Oregon and California. They can also extend down south to Baja California (fws.gov).

Western Pond Turtle Visual Survey Protocol for the Southcoast Ecoregion (usgs.gov)

Western Pond Turtle Trapping Survey Protocol for the Southcoast Ecoregion (usgs.gov)

While this is not an official document listing permit experience requirements for the western pond turtle, this article contains general information regarding permits for endangered and threatened species: Permits for Native Endangered and Threatened Species (fws.gov)

They inhabit streams, ponds, lakes, as well as both permanent and ephemeral wetlands. While western pond turtles live primarily in the water, they go onto land to nest and lay their eggs. They have an omnivorous diet, eating a variety of insects, snails, frog eggs, tadpoles, algae, cattail roots, and lily pods. Males reach sexual maturity sooner at 8-12 years, while females mature around 10-15 years. Nesting takes places from late May-middle of July. Females choose an area with dry soil (which she softens with urine) and little vegetation, which she then creates a hole for the nest. 3-13 eggs are laid and then covered with vegetation and wet soil for a humid environment. They incubate for 90-130 days. These turtles can live up to 50 years, but reproduction is slow, making it difficult to grow their numbers (fws.gov).

A classic mark-recapture study may be helpful to assess not only the western pond turtles’ movement, but specifically their response to drought that may be lowering their populations.

Western Pond Turtle Range-wide Management Strategy (fws.gov)

Males have a lighter throat and a longer tail with a cloaca extending past the hind edge of the shell. They also have a concave underside of shell to mount females during reproduction. Females have a darker throat and a shorter tail with the cloaca hitting at about the hind edge of the shell. Western pond turtles have a brown or black carapace with some light marbling. The plastron is black and yellow. The head and legs usually have a black and yellow mottled look. Adults range from 6-8 inches in length and weigh 1-2.4 pounds (fws.gov). Western pond turtles can sometimes be confused with red-eared sliders, specifically those that lose the red pigmentation or head stripes that normally distinguish them. To differentiate, western pond turtles have a smooth-edged shell, while red-eared sliders have a serrated or slightly forked edge (wildlife.ca.gov)

Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Western Pond Turtles | Center for Biological Diversity (biologicaldiversity.org)

Red-Eared Slider | California Department of Fish & Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov)