Western Painted Turtle

The Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) is a small freshwater turtle distinguished by its dark, smooth upper shell and its bright red and yellow markings on its legs and ventral shell. It is sometimes confused with the red-eared slider, a species commonly kept as a pet. Red-eared sliders have rounder shells and prominent red markings on the side of their head that are missing in painted turtles. 

This species is particularly vulnerable to human activities and development that result in the destruction of wetland habitat. It is rare in the Little Campbell River watershed (only known to be present in three wetlands) and has declined in some of the areas where it has been found. A Rocha Canada has contributed to basking and trapping surveys in partnership with the Coastal Painted Turtle Project. Surveys aim to assess population status and headstarting success in one of the three occupied wetlands.

Conservation Status

*Status information applies to the Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) Pacific Coast population

*S1S2: range rank indicates a range of uncertainty about the status of the species; *S: subnational status; *1: critically imperiled; *2: imperiled