Lazy day on the river

A western pond turtle swims through the cool clear water of the Umpqua River near Elkton in western Oregon on a beautiful spring morning on May 27, 2018.

Western pond turtles can live for 50 or more years. Due to habitat loss and the introduction of invasive predators like bass and bullfrogs, western pond turtles are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of species.