The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society


“Turtles of Central Park” Urban Safari Walk, held May 12, 2012



A dozen NYTTS members and friends joined the New York Natural History Council naturalists for a walk in Central Park to look for turtles. As expected, the vast majority of turtles seen were red-eared sliders (all released pets), but two na­tive species, eastern painted turtles and snap­ping turtles, were also observed.

After meeting on the front steps of the Museum of Natural History, group leaders Pete Warny and Jay Westerveld led us first to Turtle Pond’s observation dock just east of the Delecorte Theater (home of Shakespeare in the Park), which is a favorite place to watch turtles, ducks, and other birds. The tour continued to Belvedere Castle, which overlooks Turtle Pond, and then to the west shore of Central Park Lake. It finally finished at Bethesda Fountain.

  Anita Salzberg’s Video Clip of the Snapper on the Log

Related Link: See our page Sliders, Sliders, Everywhere!