Painted turtles remain a sign of spring

By Peter Rowland
Raymond Waterways Treasurer

One of my favorite heralds of springtime is the appearance of our painted turtles.

A small part of a larger group of painted turtles gather at 
Turtle Cove on Sebago Lake during the summer of 2025. 
Early in the spring, you may see them in large numbers,
crowded together on logs and rocks.
PHOTO BY PETER ROWLAND

They develop their pretty colors related to carotenoids in their diet. Did you know these cute little turtles can live for more than 50 years? And how do they survive our harsh winters? They have amazing adaptations that allow them to utilize anaerobic respiration with little or no oxygen for months at a time. But do they freeze? It turns out they may partially freeze, but their cells are protected by high concentrations of glucose and other compounds that act as antifreeze, so the cells don’t form ice even if areas between them are frozen.

They also have a markedly depressed metabolic rate and can absorb oxygen via their skin and cloaca. In shallow water they dig burrows 2 to 3 feet deep where they hibernate in the mud for up to 5 months.

They know it is time to leave hibernation when the water temperature reaches between 59 and 64 degrees. Temperature also controls the beginning of mating season in the spring with males producing sperm when their body temperature exceeds 63 degrees F.

Mating occurs at the bottom of water bodies. Females dig nests a few inches deep on land in sandy soil, within a couple of hundred feet of the shore in late May, June or early July. They lay an average of 5 eggs per clutch and may return to lay 2 to 5 clutches per year. The young turtles hatch in late August or September but may stay buried in the nest until the following spring. This ability to overwinter in the nest has been important in northern climates, although hard freezes can cause mortality.

Turtles are cold blooded and bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature. Particularly early in the season, you may see them in large numbers, crowded on logs and rocks. The area photographed here had more than 30. Once warmed, they re-enter the water and pursue a varied, omnivorous diet that includes algae, plants, small crustaceans, insects and small fish or carrion.

They may have multiple cycles of basking and foraging each day, but are inactive at night and mainly stay underwater, capable of staying submerged for hours at a time. The underwater environment provides safety.

Although adult turtles are fairly well protected by their shells, they can fall prey to birds of prey, raccoons and otters. Hatchlings are more vulnerable and have more predators and higher mortality. I’m pleased to report the painted turtle is doing well as a species and should continue to announce the arrival of spring for generations to come.

Fundraising Mailings

This year’s Raymond Waterways fundraising mailing will be sent out by March 2026 to all previous donors and Raymond lakefront owners. Your generous donations are essential to fund Courtesy Boat Inspections, the Lakesmart Program, and our educational programs, such as printing tips for erosion control and invasive species prevention. We are staffed entirely by volunteers – except for our Courtesy Boat Inspectors, and our mission is to keep Raymond lakes and waterways healthy and clear. You may donate by mailing a check made out to Raymond Waterways to PO Box 1243, Raymond, ME 04071, or by visiting our website at raymondwaterways.org.

Preserving the health of Raymond lakes isn’t just a benefit to landowners, but to the entire town. A University of Maine study found that lake health was closely tied to property values in a town, even for non-lakefront property owners. The success of Raymond businesses, homeowners, and our tax base depends on clean and beautiful lakes. <