How to identify Nova Scotia's freshwater or land turtles

Eastern Painted Turtle

dark green shell, yellow underneath red markings along edge of shell green head with yellow and red streaks some red on front legs and tail found in ponds

Wood Turtle

shell brown, wood-grain look shell has raised pyramid-like shields underside yellow with black blotches along edge neck and legs are orange underneath associated with streams, not ponds

Snapping Turtle

large head, long thick neck very small plastron for size of turtle back of shell has sawtooth edge big, up to 35 cm long

Blanding's Turtle

high, domed carapace grey-black with yellow spots or streaks head and neck bright yellow underneath southwestern Nova Scotia only

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