On June 23rd, I spotted a Red-eared Slider in my yard again. This marks the third year in a row I’ve had one of these turtles visit my property. Each encounter has been unique, but this latest sighting has me wondering about patterns I hadn’t noticed before.
The turtle was definitely laying eggs. I watched it move into the pine needles and begin digging. What happened next surprised me, the turtle became partially covered by the loose pine needles as it worked. I don’t think this was intentional. The digging motion seemed to push the needles around and over the turtle’s shell.
Red-eared Slider Returns in June – Nesting Pattern Emerges
The timing of these visits is striking. My first encounter happened on June 20th, and this year’s visit occurred on June 23rd. That’s remarkably consistent timing, just three days apart across different years.
Looking back at my first encounter, I’m now wondering if that turtle was also nesting. It happened on June 20th, and I didn’t see obvious egg-laying behavior. But maybe I just missed the main event.
Last year in May 2024, I witnessed a Red-eared Slider laying eggs in my yard. That encounter confirmed what I suspected about these visits.
Same Red-eared Slider Returns or Different Visitors?
Living in town makes these visits even more puzzling. Why would Red-eared Sliders choose my residential yard as a nesting site? Are we talking about the same turtle returning each year, or do I have multiple turtles who’ve decided my property is prime real estate?
The May and June timing suggests these could be return visits from the same individual. Turtles often return to familiar nesting sites. But without marking the turtle, I can’t be certain.
What I do know is that my yard apparently offers something these turtles need. Good soil for digging, perhaps, or the right sun exposure. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for these annual visits.