A turtle runs through grass towards a pond. The turtle looks small but is about a foot long. The pond reflects soft blue sky and clouds tinted pink by the dawn.
The cooter. He has a red-yellow plastron, or lower shell, and a dark green carapace, or upper shell. His head is dark green or brown with thin yellow stripes running horizontally across his face. His carapace is spotted with green algae along the edges as if he's spent a long time soaking in still water, which is exactly what he's done because when he crossed the road he was leaving a small swamp where the only movement comes from the tiny fish swimming.
The ripple-maker. ๐
#turtle #backyardwildlife #turtlecrossing