Turtles & Tortoises That Are Native to Wisconsin

Map Turtles

• Wisconsin is home to three species from the genus Graptemys, or map turtles. The common map turtle is found in the western part of the state and along main river systems running eastward. It is a medium-sized turtle that grows to over 10 inches long. It is olive brown in color with a finely lined patterning all over its shell. The Ouachita is slightly smaller than the common variety at around 10 inches long and is darker green in color. It lives in the larger, faster moving rivers of Wisconsin. The false map turtle is found in southern Wisconsin. It is larger than the other two species at almost 11 inches and resembles the Ouachita.

Softshell Turtles

• The state is the native home of two species of softshell turtle. The smooth softshell turtle lives in the southwestern part of the state. It grows to almost 14 inches in length has a wide, flat body and a leathery hard shell. Smooth softshells have pointed snouts so that they can remain submerged under water and use their noses as snorkels to breathe. The eastern spiny softshell is found in all but the most eastern edge of northwestern parts of the state. It grows up to 18 inches long and has a similar body shape as the smooth softshell.

Painted Turtles

• Wisconsin is home to two subspecies of painted turtle. The western painted turtle grows to between 4 and 8 inches in length and is found in wetland habitats statewide. It has a dark olive coloration with a bright yellow, thin line patterning. The midland painted turtle is also found throughout the state, but most commonly in the southeast. The midland has orange to red colored stripes on its neck and legs in contrast to the western's yellow stripes.

Snapping and Wood Turtles

• The common snapping turtle is a native species found in waterways statewide. It grows to 16 inches in length and has a large, heavy body. It is an aggressive carnivore with powerful, snapping jaws. The wood turtle is a rare species that is found in the more northwestern areas of the state. It is a semi-terrestrial species and spends more time on land than the state's other more aquatic species. It grows to between 6 and 9 inches long and has a large, domed shell.

Blandings, Musk and Box Turtles

• Blanding's turtle is a rare species in the state but is present in most wetland areas in low numbers. It grows to around 10 inches long and has a high domed, dark green shell. The common musk turtle, also known as a stinkpot, is most common in the south of the state. It is a small species that grows just over 5 inches long with a brownish-green domed shell. The ornate box turtle has a distinctive dark green domed shell with thick yellow stripe patterns. It lives in the southwestern part of the state and grows to less than 5 inches in length.