Big surprice

During the weekend walk I had an encounter with a fresh water turtle. I believe it's a COASTAL PLAINS COOTER (Pseudemys floridana). A very colorful turtle.

Click on the picture to see all the details.

Normally, these turtles are in the water all the time, so finding one on land was a big surprise! 

The Coastal Plains Cooter (Pseudemys floridana), also known as the Florida Cooter, is a freshwater turtle native to the southeastern United States, particularly in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. This species thrives in slow-moving rivers, ponds, marshes, swamps, and other freshwater habitats. Known for its strong swimming ability, it’s most commonly found in water and rarely ventures onto land except to bask or lay eggs.