As we humans warm ourselves with space heaters, coats and gloves, western painted turtles are at the bottom of our region’s ...

The Pacific Northwest has two native freshwater turtles, the Western painted turtle and the Western pond turtle. The pond turtle, found on the West Side, is state-listed as endangered in Washington.

Minnesota’s turtles got new protections as of Monday, Jan. 1. In 2023, state lawmakers approved a law eliminating the commercial harvest of two species — western painted turtles and snapping turtles.

While most turtles are wild, many are adopted as pets each year. Keep in mind that turtles are sometimes considered exotic pets, so there may be local or state laws that restrict their adoption. There ...