Four turtles are stacked 3 high on a rectangular stone in an artificial pond. Two turtles are on the bottom, one in the middle and the big one on the top of the tower. One turtle looks on from the pond at left. They are greenish-gray brown with red stripes where the ears would be. You can see yellowish swirls on the extended neck of the big one, and yellow stripes on the chin and front legs.

First turtle(s) of 2026 this Friday in Ontario! #FirstTurtle This is cheating, though. These turtles, red-eared sliders, live indoors at Allen Gardens, a conservatory greenhouse in downtown Toronto.

Beautiful snapper just outside Toronto. (Technically, it’s my #secondturtle; I saw a painted turtle basking in a log two minutes earlier, but it was even less photographable, if you can imagine.) #firstturtle 🐢

At the center a turtle is perched on on log behind a little island on Mud Lake, which is calm. There is a leafless forest across the water – leafless except for the green needles of some white pines, that is - and the sky is overcast and gray. There is at least one more turtle hiding in the picture.

The turtles are back in Ottawa, Ontario! #FirstTurtle ! It got up to 18°C and I went over to Mud Lake, which has to be one of the nicest little patches of wetland in town. The first turtle I saw was in the middle of this frame. I think it is a painted turtle? Lots more wildlife and photographers!

I think I am about a week late tbh! But #FirstTurtle for me I guess!

#FirstTurtle !?

Six turtles on a log basking with ice in the background.

Turtles basking in late February. Ice was still on the water.
#FirstTurtle

I’ve been seeing turtles basking in the sun for over a week now here in central PA. They are mostly painted turtles. #FirstTurtle

I spotted a Red-eared Slider Turtle sunning itself on a log in the pond at Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver, BC, on March 6th.

#FirstTurtle #redearedsliderturtle #turtle

Slidy turtles on a log in the sun. I don’t know what species. ☺️

#FirstTurtle Feb 28. I actually thought of you when i took this pic but then I likely found a piece of string or something shiny.

New hashtag! Let us all know when you see your #FirstTurtle of the year! I haven't yet but I'll keep you posted.

#herps

Red-ear sliders in the sun with reflection.

#FirstTurtle not a good photo, but red-ear sliders in Chicago.

Wow! That's the first #FirstTurtle ! Ever nice! I am a fair way north of you, so I am not expecting to see one 'til next month but that won't be too too long now!

March 9 - Common Snapping Turtle, Pulaski County, Illinois
#FirstTurtle

A good sized snapping turtle walking on the sidewalk. This turtle had just crossed a busy road in Ottawa, Ontario. The shell is grayish and spiky at the back. The rest of the turtle is more greenish with a dragon-like spiky tail, crocodile-ish claws, and little eyes looking mostly forward, but maybe spying back at you out of the corner of one eye. (This picture was taken one morning in late August 2022.)

Have you seen any turtles yet this year? Let us know! Post the date you saw your first turtle this year, roughly where you saw it, and hashtag it #FirstTurtle . Tell us the type if you know it, and post a pic if you like. Don’t give the exact location of endangered turtles – they need their privacy!

Ok! I will plan to post my first turtle sighting of 2025, but I am only occasionally in their territory and also getting a bit north for them, so there will be many earlier sightings by others. Also hashtags are uncommon here but it would help to have one. Maybe tag your #FirstTurtle this year?