“Wendy, how do Wyoming turtles survive the winter?”
Turtles, like all reptiles, are ectotherms, meaning they use the environment to control body temperature rather than burn energy to regulate their temperature themselves. So to keep from freezing in the winter, turtles shelter in places where the temperature stays just above freezing and essentially hibernate. For ectotherms it’s called brumation. In Wyoming, aquatic turtles spend the winter underwater and below ice in ponds that don't freeze solid. Because their metabolism is so low when brumating, they require only small amounts of oxygen which they can get through parts of their skin with lots of blood vessels, like the inside of their mouth and even their rear ends! Wyoming is home to three native aquatic turtle species, the eastern spiny softshell, snapping turtle, and western painted turtle, and one land turtle, the plains (ornate) box turtle.
Wendy A. Estes-Zumpf Herpetological Coordinator
Can't find your answer here? Search our archives of previous "Ask Game and Fish" questions.
Frequently asked questions about hunting, fishing, wildlife, application process and watercraft.
Stay up to date on all Wyoming Game and Fish news either by email or text message. Click the link below to get started.
CONNECT WITH US