Leaving the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma on March 16, 2024, I came across an Eastern River Cooter crossing the auto tour road. The road was bordered by water on both sides, and the turtle was steadily making its way across.
In a previous post (Eastern River Cooter), I noted that females of this species often travel across roads in search of nesting sites. I cannot say for certain if that is what I witnessed here, but it did make me curious.
I pulled over and got a few pictures of this determined turtle on its journey.
That encounter got me thinking about the name “Cooter.” I had already covered some details about the Eastern River Cooter before, but I had never really looked into where the name came from.
After doing a little digging, I found that the name traces back to the African word “kuta,” which means turtle in the Bambara and Malinké languages. That word came to America with enslaved Africans, and over time it shifted into “cooter,” the name we still use today for this freshwater turtle.
It is interesting how a name we hear all the time can have a story like that behind it. Moments like this remind me that there is always more to learn out here. Pay attention when you are out exploring, because even a simple encounter can lead to something unexpected.
I didn’t realize any turtles in our area were called cooters… When we go to FLorida and happen to take boat tours, the guide always points out “cooter” turtles… I assumed they were only in that area..Thanks for the info.. I think I am also able to tell them apart from a red ear slider due to their shell shape.and head..
Also the name of a character on Dukes of Hazard.