Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to set up a outdoor turtle pond on my property, which would be used in hope by wild turtles in the area, these turtles would of course be free to come and go at will.

I just think it would be cool to set something up that would offer some great viewing of wild turtles, since im in Michigan the turtles will be hibernating during the winter and this is the reason im looking for some advise on pond set up, because if possible I would like them to be able to hibernate right at my pond set up.

Would I want to go with a liner type pond? A pre-formed plastic pond? or would it have to be a natural unlined type hole/pond? How deep should it be at min? etc .. any info would be appreciated! I have some large pre-formed ponds already but I have a feeling that these wont work because of hibernation requirements but maybe im wrong!

My pond is 1,000 gallons, and about 3 feet at the deepest part. I used to have turtles, but turned it into a Koi pond and just have boxies and a tortoise now. At the end of one side of the pond I used to have a section under a large bush that I would losten up about 2 feet of dirt and mix it with peat moss. Then I would add about 2 more feet of leaf litter in the Fall. Mine never hibernated in the water, only under the leaf pile. I live in NY and some winters were really cold. Most were RES, with one Eastern Painted. Hope this helps.