Western Painted Turtle

Western Painted Turtles basking, April 13, 2011.  Photo by Larry Halverson

Western Painted Turtles are blue-listed in BC, meaning they are vulnerable to further decline due to habitat loss and destruction.

“Turtles are cold-blooded and require the sun's energy to regulate body temperature," says Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, biologist Ross Clarke. Basking out of the water is a critical element of their daily routine. A lack of basking structures such as logs or large rocks can be an issue. Basking plays a far more important role than purely increasing body temperature. Typically turtles need to obtain a body temperature of 18 C to digest food. Depending on the weather and time of year, western painted turtles spend up to two hours at a time basking in the sun out of the water. While they can absorb heat when they float near the surface, being out of the water is far more efficient. Basking is also important for turtles to rid themselves of algae and help promote healthy shell growth.

Note from Angus Glass
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program