How to Tell Our Local Turtles Apart
Even experts sometimes struggle to distinguish western pond turtles from common pond sliders.
Tag: turtles
Where Do Turtles Go in Winter and Summer?
Where do turtles go in the winter and summer? —Alma, Sebastopol I am assuming you are referring to our only native freshwater turtle—the western pond turtle—which you might see basking...
After Decades Away, Western Pond Turtles Come Home to Mountain Lake
Biologists released western pond turtles into Mountain Lake, marking another big step in the San Francisco lake's comeback.
Santa Clara Water District Cuts Reservoir Releases to Local Creeks and Ponds
Santa Clara Valley Water District officials say they are facing an “unprecedented shortage” of water this year, and as the district’s drinking water reservoirs run dry, it is cutting releases...
Native Son
The Pacific Coast of North America has only one species of native turtle: the western pond turtle. Just 80 years ago, a naturalist found more than 100 of these creatures...
Are there any resident animal species in the region that hibernate in winter, even though we don’t usually have snow or freezing temperatures?
That depends on what you mean by hibernation. All but one of the Bay Area’s 13 species of bats are capable of hibernating; the exception is the abundant Mexican free-tailed...
