Thursday, August 30, 2007

Out of Place Animals



Walking past my local duck pond. I was surprised to spot a large red eared terrapin basking on a log. At first I wasn’t sure if it was real but it moved its head and eventually plopped into the water.

I spoke to a local resident who was passing and she said that there were several terrapins in the pond and that they had been there for quite some time, although she didn’t say I got the impression it may have been a few years. Soon after she left I spotted two terrapins in the water together.

I always thought that terrapins needed a warmer environment than the local duck pond provides (the internet suggests water temperatures of 24-27 degrees C) but they seem to be doing fine.

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