Turtles Painted with Vegetation?

These Painted Turtles look like they've been painted with loose vegetation from the reservoir. I doubt it's a turtle fashion statement and is instead indicative of the vegetation growing in the water, though this does add a little color to mostly-dark turtles. I've certainly seen other messy turtles like this Spotted Turtle, and our Common Snapping Turtles are frequently seen carrying vegetation around. I suspect this is mostly harmless, though maybe it makes their basking in the sun a little less productive?

I'd recommend they take a bath, but since they probably got this way swimming in this water, it probably wouldn't help.

June 13, 2023 at Washington Valley Reservoir
Photo 300987037, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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