06/05/2026
Spotted a beautiful Eastern Painted Turtle laying her eggs right here at Old Mount Ida Cemetery in Troy! 🐢🍂
Did you know June is peak nesting season for these amazing creatures in Upstate NY? Here are a few mind-blowing facts about what she’s doing here:
1️⃣ GPS Instinct: Female painted turtles often return to the exact same neighborhood where they were hatched years ago to lay their own eggs.
2️⃣ Natural Incubator: She uses her webbed hind legs to carefully excavate a flask-shaped nest in the sunny, sandy soil.
3️⃣ Gender Mystery: The temperature of the nest actually determines whether the babies will be boys or girls! Warmer nests produce females, while cooler nests produce males.
4️⃣ The Long Wait: These tiny hatchlings won't emerge until late August or September—and some might even winter over inside the nest until next spring!
Make sure to watch your step if you're exploring Troy’s historic spots this month, and always give these nesting mamas plenty of space to work their magic. ✨
Have you spotted any turtles around town yet? 👇
