Turtles

Four of the seven turtles known to occur in the park are restricted to the lower and warmer westernmost part of the area; these are the eastern painted turtle, common map turtle, Troost's turtle, and musk turtle. The strictly aquatic spiny softshell turtle inhabits the lower streams along the northern as well as the western boundaries. The two remaining species have a much greater distribution within the park, the eastern box turtle ranging up to 4,000 feet, while the common snapping turtle rarely wanders above 2,500 feet. The former is easily the most common turtle in an area where permanent ponds and lakes are nonexistent; the latter, a notoriously savage reptile, is the park's largest turtle.

The eastern box turtle is usually quite active during and after summer rains. This is the most common turtle in the park. Courtesy, Isabelle Hunt Conant.