Today we’re honoring painted turtles, named for the unique red and yellow stripes along their heads, necks, and tails. Late May through the end of June is prime time for female turtles to search for nest sites to lay their eggs, so be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads and laying eggs in your yard!

If a small turtle is in danger of being hit by cars, it can be carefully moved in the direction it was headed, to the other side of the road, but snapping turtles should NEVER be handled because they are dangerous (and much faster than you’d expect). Read more about what to do if you encounter a turtle, and learn a bit about all the turtles species in Massachusetts.

Enjoy these five lovely photos of painted turtles from our annual Photo Contest!

2012 Photo Contest Entry © Mary Anne Doyle

2014 Photo Contest Entry © Dick Hatfield

2012 Photo Contest Entry © Katie Giroux

2012 Photo Contest Entry © Ed Schmitt

2012 Photo Contest Entry © Dennis Durette

It’s been a rainy couple of weeks in Massachusetts, but at long last, the sunshine has returned! People and wildlife alike are venturing forth to soak up the warm rays for the first time in days. In nature, this behavior is called basking. Both reptiles and amphibians are poikilothermic, which means that they cannot regulate their own body temperatures internally as birds and mammals do. Basking on sunny days helps them to warm up their cold bodies.

Enjoy these five photos of wildlife enjoying the sunshine, then get out and enjoy it yourself! Have a great photo of your own? The 2016 Photo Contest will begin on June 1, 2016.

Northern Water Snake © Elizabeth McGurn

Monarch Butterfly © Chris Lang

Painted Turtles © Angelia Caggiano

Bullfrog © Jennifer Freitas

Twelve-Spotted Skimmer © Helene Grogan