Resident Turtles & Tortoises
Our resident turtles at Nature Center are rescues, adopted with special needs or fosters. We do not remove turtles from the wild unless they are in need of assistance. Native turtles are returned to their exact place of origin as soon as possible. Below are the turtles that live at Nature Center year round.
Our Turtles
TORTOISES
Tina
Russian Tortoise
Testudo horsfieldii Tina is being fostered because her human graduated high school and went to college. |
Pancakes
Sulcata Tortoise
Centrochelys sulcata We were able to give this tiny tortoise a home because we are an educational facility. |
Lollipop
Red-footed Tortoise
Chelonoidis carbonaria This tortoise came to us from a breeder as a gift for our nature center. |
Leppy
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis Leppy has a malformed shell. We adopted her as a special needs tortoise, although she should live a complete life with little difficulties. |
Jeffrey
Sulcata Tortoise
Centrochelys sulcata Jeffrey is an 8-year-old tortoise who has had a rough start to life, not receiving proper diet or lighting. Even given his shell malformation, he should live a long life with us. |
Herman
Hermann's Tortoise
Testudo hermanni |
Tortellini
|
Speke's Hingeback Tortoise
Kinixys spekii |
BOX TURTLES
Plum
Gulf Coast Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina major Plum was rescued after she was hit by a car. She couldn't be returned to the wild because her collection location was not known. |
Wyoming
Gulf Coast Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina major Wyoming does not use her back legs. She has come to from the Central MS Turtle Rescue. |
Lucille
Three-toed Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina triunguis Plum was rescued after she was hit by a car. She couldn't be returned to the wild because her collection location was not known. |
Jack
Asian Box Turtle
Cuora sp. Jack was adopted when his human joined the US Marines and could no longer keep him. |
Zara
Central American Ornate Box Turtle
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni We adopted this turtle with the small wound on the shell. It is healing nicely. |
Zoey
Central American Ornate Box Turtle
Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni |
AQUATIC TURTLES
Snappers
Piggie
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina Piggie was hit on the road and has made a great recovery. He is the favorite of all visitors to the Nature Center. |
Cubbie
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina Cubbie was found in the bagger of a lawn mower but only suffered injuries on his shell. They are healing nicely at this time. |
Armageddon
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Macrochelys temminckii Armagedon was a surrendered pet who has come to live with us from J&R Aquatic Rescue in Menasha, WI. |
Sliders
Tippy
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans Tippy was a stray found on the streets of Milwaukee, WI. We adopted her after she was rescued. Tippy is partially blind. |
Peanut
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans Peanut was a stray found on the streets of Milwaukee, WI. We adopted him after he was rescued. |
Rocky
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans Rocky was run over by a car and his shell could not be completed reconstructed. He has come to use from the Central MS Turtle Rescue. |
Chuck
Cumberland Slider
Trachemys scripta troostii This small turtle is part of an education program and is working on getting bigger right now. |
Isabel
Mexican Ornate Slider
Trachemys ornata This small turtle is part of an education program and is working on getting bigger right now. |
Nora
Cumberland Slider
Trachemys scripta troostii This small turtle is part of an education program and is working on getting bigger right now. |
Banana
Yellow-bellied Slider
Trachemys scripta scripta Banana was a pet and we are unsure why she was put up for adoption. |
Sherlock
Yellow-bellied Slider
Trachemys scripta scripta Sherlock is missing part of his mouth. He has come to us from the Central MS Turtle Rescue. |
Pumpkin
Yellow-bellied Slider
Trachemys scripta scripta Pumpkin did not get proper diet or lighting while young and now his shell is permanently damaged. He came to us from the Central MS Turtle Rescue. |
Cooters
Side-necks and Snake-necks
Paints
June
Western Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta June is a special needs turtle who is missing a whole back leg. She gets around pretty well, especially when swimming. |
Crayon
Western Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta Crayon is a special needs turtle who is miss a front leg and part of her shell is embedded in her neck. |
Peg
Western Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta Peg is a special needs turtle who is missing a whole back leg. |
Softshells
Augustine
Florida Softshell
Apalone ferox This guy was surrendered to us with a bunch of hatchlings. |
Pensacola
Florida Softshell
Apalone ferox This guy was surrendered to us with a bunch of hatchlings. |
Pantera
Leopard Softshell
Apolane ferox x Apalone spiniferus This guy is a hybrid between Florida and Spiny Softshell species. |
Spike
|
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera |
Musk Turtles
Oink
Stinkpot Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus This small turtle is part of an education program and is working on getting bigger right now. |
Michael
Razorback Musk Turtle
Sterotherus carinatus Michael was a beloved pet, but he had to be put for adoption when his owner fell on hard times. |
Potato
Scorpion Mud Turtle
Kinosternon scorpioides This guy came to us as a rescue and has been enjoying eating lots of worms! |
Mire
|
Ooze
|
Mississippi Mud Turtle
Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis |
Eastern Mud Turtle
Kinosternon subrubrum |
Map Turtles
Lost
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica This guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchlings. |
Atlas
Mississippi Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni This guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchlings. |
Legend
Mississippi Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni This guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchlings. |
Geographic Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica This guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchlings. |
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica This guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchlings. |
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis This guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchlings. |
Other Aquatic Turtles
Hope
Mata Mata Turtle
Chelus fimbriata Hope needed a new home and we were a good fit for her. She continues to adjust to her new surroundings. |
Chris
Reeve's Pond Turtle
Mauremys reevsii This small turtle is part of an education program and is working on getting bigger right now. |
Akira
Japanese Wood Turtle
Mauremys japonica |
Ringo
Twist-necked Turtle
Platemys platycephala Ringo came to us with a beat up shell; it is healing nicely now. |
Whit
Gibba Gibba Turtle
Mesoclemmys gibba Whit is a rescue turtle that was probably wild caught. He is taking some time to adjust to life with us. |
Slimer
Red-necked Pond Turtle
Mauremys nigricans This little guy came to us in a surrender of a number of hatchling turtles. |