Reptile/Amphibian
Wood Turtle
Beautiful, protected, and worth every bit of both
Hi, Ivy!
Ivy arrived at the park in 2020 after being confiscated as an illegal pet in New York. Turtles are frequent victims of the illegal pet trade. Maine has some of the strictest wildlife protection laws in the country, and we're glad those laws helped bring Ivy to a place she can truly call home.
Where Turtles Huddle
Wood turtles live statewide in Maine along slow-moving streams and rivers, in wooded floodplains, and in sandy-banked areas where they love to nest.
Under Threat
Wood turtles are a Species of Special Concern in Maine. Their beauty and calm temperament make them a target for the illegal pet trade, and wild populations have suffered as a result.
Be a friend of turtles and leave them where they belong – in the wild.
Quick Facts
Average Size
Their carapace (a really cool word for “shell”) can run 5.5 to 10 inches in length.
What's on the Menu
Wood turtles are omnivores with a clever trick: they "stomp" the ground with their feet, mimicking the vibrations of rainfall to lure earthworms to the surface and then snap them right up. Mmm worms.
The Look
A sculpted, brownish-gray carapace, with warm yellow and orange coloring underneath.
