Turtles

This is the time of year when our turtle neighbors emerge from their winter brumation. (Though hibernation is officially dormancy in mammals, sometimes it'll be used for reptiles, insects, or even plants. Brumation is the term that applies specifically to reptiles and (probably) amphibians.)

I suspect that logs/rocks sticking out of the water are a favorite of turtles for various reasons:
  1. These places are less likely to be shady, so the turtles get more benefit from the sun.
  2. Some predators won't even try to swim out to attack them.
  3. On the shore, if a predator shows up they have to amble into the water to escape. On logs all they have to do is fall in the water to be safe.
As ectotherms, turtles need the sun to properly regulate their body temperatures. Many of them will do like these guys and climb out of the water to bask, but some prefer to be slightly underwater.
April 13, 2021 at the Delaware/Raritan Canal


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