ebeckes
Painted Turtle Girl. How do I know?
Found this Painted Turtle after sunset. Living in Montana for 43 years, I've never run across one in the egg-laying process, but that's what she was either, A.) about to do, or, B.) had already done. The light was very poor and I didn't want to bother her, (though I have to say, she didn't move a muscle while I was there. I've heard that they may go into a kind of trance while they're doing this, and she sure seemed to be under some kind of spell.) I took a few shots, wished her and her offspring well, and left. Make the photo big and look at the muddy hole she'd prepared for the eggs. Her posterior hovers over it. It was far from roads and people and on land protected by the Ninepipe preserve, so I think her babies will have as fair a chance as they could have anywhere. Water wasn't too far off .. maybe 100 yards.
Painted Turtle Girl. How do I know?
Found this Painted Turtle after sunset. Living in Montana for 43 years, I've never run across one in the egg-laying process, but that's what she was either, A.) about to do, or, B.) had already done. The light was very poor and I didn't want to bother her, (though I have to say, she didn't move a muscle while I was there. I've heard that they may go into a kind of trance while they're doing this, and she sure seemed to be under some kind of spell.) I took a few shots, wished her and her offspring well, and left. Make the photo big and look at the muddy hole she'd prepared for the eggs. Her posterior hovers over it. It was far from roads and people and on land protected by the Ninepipe preserve, so I think her babies will have as fair a chance as they could have anywhere. Water wasn't too far off .. maybe 100 yards.