HARTMAN RESERVE
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DOBBY

PAINTED TURTLE
Chrysemys picta 
Natural History
LIFE
Painted turtles are one of Iowa’s most well-known turtle species. Depending on gender, painted turtles grow between 4-10 inches, with female turtles being larger. These turtles have smooth, dark carapaces with thin, yellow stripes. The yellow stripes wrap around the shell, but the predominating surrounding color on the sides of the shell is red. The plastron, or underside of the shell, is mainly red and orange-red towards the edges, with a bold pattern of black and yellow in the center. Once the painted turtles reach adulthood, around 3-5 years of age for males and 6-10 years of age for females, they begin mating between May and July. Female painted turtles typically lay between 4 and 12 eggs. These turtles can then grow to be 55 years of age.

HABITAT AND RANGE
The western painted turtle is populous statewide. These turtles thrive in freshwater habitats, with muddy bottoms, aquatic vegetation, and areas for basking. Painted turtles particularly enjoy streams and lakes, but they will occasionally live in pasture and roadside ponds.

DIET
The painted turtle’s diet consists of aquatic vegetation, insects, crustaceans, and fish.

CONSERVATION STATUS
LEGAL to take with a valid fishing license. These turtles may be trapped, taken by hand, hook and line, turtle hook throughout Iowa (LeClere, 2020).


SOURCE: DNR. (2015, September 8). 6 Things You Might not Know About Iowa's Turtles. Retrieved July 5th, 2020, from https://www.iowadnr.gov/About- DNR/DNR-News Releases/ArticleID/66/6-Things-You-Might-not-Know-About-Iowas-Turtles LeClere, J. (2020). Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta). Retrieved July 5th, 2020, from http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/turtles/painted-turtlechrysemys-picta/
Picture
Dobby's Story
Hartman Reserve Nature Center’s painted turtle, Dobby, was brought to the nature center as a surrender
many years ago. To most people's surprise, he is 20
years old and is very small due to the fact that he grew
up with another turtle. We know Dobby is a male
because of his concave plastron which is the underside
of his shell. He will live out the rest of his life here at
Hartman as an animal ambassador with his friend
Boomer.
Picture
OUR MISSION
​

​Hartman Reserve Nature Center is dedicated to understanding our environment through education, recreation and community involvement and to stewardship of a unique natural area.
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CONTACT INFO

​Hartman Reserve Nature Center
657 Reserve Drive
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Phone: (319)-277-2187
Fax: (319) 277-4420
NATURE CENTER HOURS
Monday - Friday: 8 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 1-5pm
​No cost to enter and enjoy the exhibits and library.
​
TRAILS
Open every day from
​sunrise to sunset. Free to use.

OUTDOOR-ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM
The restroom on the south side of the building is open every day from
​sunrise to sunset.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • HISTORY
    • WHAT WE ARE
    • VISION
    • OUR PARTNERS
    • STAFF
    • CONNECT
  • VISIT
    • NATURE CENTER HOURS
    • TRAILS >
      • TRAIL RX
    • ANIMAL AMBASSADORS >
      • SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE
      • PAINTED TURTLE
      • RED-EARED SLIDER
      • 3-TOED BOX TURTLE
      • ORNATE BOX TURTLES
      • WESTERN FOX SNAKE
      • CORN SNAKE
      • WESTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE
      • TIGER SALAMANDERS
    • EXHIBITS
  • EDUCATION
    • SCHOOL OF THE WILD
    • FIELD TRIPS >
      • PRE K - KINDERGARDEN
      • 1st - 2nd GRADE
      • 3rd - 4th GRADE
      • 5th GRADE and UP
    • EDUCATORS RESOURCES
  • PROGRAMS
    • UPCOMING
    • YOUTH CAMPS >
      • SUMMER CAMPS
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • TALES FROM THE TRAILS
    • SPECIAL EVENTS >
      • MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL
      • UNDER THE HARVEST MOON
      • WOODLAND WONDERLAND
  • RENTALS
    • COMMUNITY ROOM
    • BUCKLES BUILDING
    • SNOWSHOES
  • OPPORTUNITIES
    • VOLUNTEER
    • INTERNSHIPS
  • DONATE
    • BRICKS FOR BIRDS