The Blanding's turtle is a black and yellow turtle found in the midwestern United States that lives in marshes, ponds, streams and forests. It is a slow moving omnivore that eats plants, insects and small animals, and lays 3 to 17 eggs on land each year which take 65-90 days to hatch, though many are preyed on before emerging. Blanding's turtles can live over 15 years to reach maturity and use their hard shell for protection as they swim under ice in the winter and come on land to hibernate from November to April.

1. Blanding’s Turtle By:Anthony

2. Description The Blanding’s turtle is a reptile. It is at least 5 to 10 1/2 in. It is black and yellow and looks like a Box turtle. It has a bright yellow chin. The head,tail,and limbs are dark blue. It uses it’s shell for protection.

3. Habitat Blanding turtles live in Nebraska,Wisconsin, and Iowa. They live in marshes and shallow bays. They also live in weedy creeks, ponds, lakes, moving rivers, streams, and some northern logs.

4. Living Habitat This turtle moves slow. It has been seen swimming under ice. It’s threatened in Wisconsin. It eats crustaceans, snails, insects, frogs, crayfish, earthworms, slugs, grasses and berries.

5. Birth and growth Before the turtle is 3 to 5 years old its yellow markings are not apparent. It hibernates from November to April. Blanding turtles require from 15 to 20 years to mature. All turtles lay eggs on land. The clutch may contain from 3 to 17 elliptical eggs. Between 65 and 90 days pass before they hatch. The nests are however, not safe. Birds, crows, skunks, and raccoons eat or smash eggs.

6. Interesting facts This turtle can live on land and water. Its an omnivorous. It was named after its discoverer. The turtle is shy. It hides in its shell. This turtle was interesting to learn about.

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