For information on how to live with wildlife, visit these species pages:
Bats | Beaver | Birds | Black Bears | Bobcats | Cougars | Coyotes | Deer and Elk | Frogs | Nutria | Osprey | Owls | Raccoons | Snakes | Tree Squirrels | Turkeys | Turtles | Wolves | Young Wildlife
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Western Pond Turtle
- Photo by Rick Swart, ODFW- |
Oregon has two native species of turtles: the western pond turtle and the western painted turtle. Both are highlighted in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as species in need of help—that is, they have low or declining populations.
Non-native turtles compete with native turtles for basking sites and are known to introduce disease that has resulted in localized die-offs of native turtle populations. The two species Oregon biologists are concerned about are snapping turtles and red-eared sliders. Never buy or release either of these turtles in the wild. Call your local ODFW office if you have one of these species or if you see one.
Have you seen a turtle in Oregon?
Let us know by completing an online form. Biologists are working on an updated census of Willamette Valley turtles. Visit the Native Turtles of Oregon website and let us know. |