Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw a turtle walk by the other day in a very unexpected place and I have never seen one that looked like it before. I had a muted green colored shell with no real detail. It was about the size of a football with yellow spots on its legs and orange spots on its head and neck. I have lived here in Eastern Kansas all my life and have seen a lot of turtles but never one that looked like this one. It didn't seem to be an aquatic turtle.

Is this someone's escaped pet or a native I have never seen before?

It's difficult to identify a turtle without a picture. Try finding a website that has pictures of turtles native to your area, such as http://www.enature.com/home/ and see if you can find a picutre similar to the one you found.

Good luck.
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.9.0 chickens
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

Since you don't think it is an aquatic turtle yet it is the size of a football and looks out of the ordinary to you, check out this picture of Yellow Footed Tortoise and see how it compares. If so it would be someone's escapee. If not, I can give you a few other suggestions.

I dont think the pic showed up so here is the link

http://www.arthurgrosset.com/mammals/photos/geocar8788.jpg

-JG

I finally think I found a turtle that fits the bill. I live on the border of Missouri and Kansas and never thought to search turtles in Missouri. In looking at different pictures I think it was a three-toed box turtle and male at that due to its colors. I could be wrong, though. If it was someone's pet then I see why it could have been allowed to escape. It had a very sour disposition!

Sounds like a good call. That is what my very first instincts were from your description and location, but I was thrown off when you described it as football sized. Are we talking nerf or NFL regulation. haha, jk. That is why I suggested a Yellow Footed Tortoise instead. Well anyway, hopefully we have it figured out.

-JG