It was an exciting day at the Nature Center for discovering creatures. Several kindergarten classes got to explore the prairie, forest, and pond today in search of insects, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. A pair of geese with 4 goslings was a close second to this infant painted turtle, scooped out of the pond with a net and held by many a kindergartner. About the size of a quarter when born, painted turtles emerge from eggs and must cross dangerous terrain to get back to the water. On the way they must evade with all manner of hungry predators - herons, cranes, owls, foxes, weasels, crows, snakes, hawks, bullfrogs. And the pond itself is not much safer. On hot sunny afternoons, more and more tiny turtles will be sitting out on logs to soak up the warmth they need to keep their blood warm and offering you a chance to see them.
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