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Orange salamanders. - 10 or 12 today along a ridge line hike at Sholan FarmView attachment 285169
I saw 6 alligators in the last couple days, 3 deer, and one dolphin.
Saw this Monday in the marsh near where I work up near the blue hills. Saw another one if not the same one this morning in the same area.
I'd swear I can smell them well before I get there. Just a real heavy, musky odor.
I saw 2 bears shortly after posting that lol. Luckily they were several hundred feet below me crossing a glacier traveling in the opposite direction. My first time seeing them outside of Clark's trading post. I also saw my first marmot. And some type of mountain sheep or goat or ram.
From what I've Been Told turtles will go wandering looking for new ponds when there are too many turtles in the pond that they currently inhabit. If it were and especially large hatch of eggs and the pond is low the turtles may go looking for more food. Some turtles just have an adventurous spirit and go exploring like the Vikings. It is probably more common to occur once a group of turtles reaches adolescence. You know how adolescents can be "FU Ma! I'm a big turtle in a small pond! I'm going to seek my fame and fortune! Peace out!"So what's the deal with turtles? There was a week maybe a month or so ago where I was running into them walking around on land. Some big Fers too, and not really all that that close to any bodies of water. A couple of painted turtles and some snappers. I took my oldest son out for a hike and we saw a couple of the painted ones, and when my middle boy saw the pictures of big bro holding a turtle he got all butthurt so I wanted to show him too, but haven't been able to find any that weren't out in the middle of a lake.
Do these things only walk around on land (i.e. where we can get at them) during a part of the year, when they're laying eggs or something?
Not sure but only Jesus turtles walk on water. The rest walk only on land.
Sorry. Couldn't resist. They can live in pretty small bodies of water. The "pond" near my house where I see them is probably 50' by 75'. It's a hole. That's where we see the painted. But we see them elsewhere in the neighborhood not really near the pond. Always seems to be the warmest time of the year.
My neighbor at the lake has a female that lays eggs in her garden every year. A while later, a pile of snapping babies head lake-side. Same spot in the garden every year for at least the last 6-7 years. I'll have to check if she's been by.
Some turtles just have an adventurous spirit and go exploring like the Vikings. It is probably more common to occur once a group of turtles reaches adolescence. You know how adolescents can be "FU Ma! I'm a big turtle in a small pond! I'm going to seek my fame and fortune! Peace out!"