Red-eared sliders were sunning themselves on rocks at The Pond in Central Park yesterday. They have been out of sight all winter doing the reptile version of hibernating. But they are back and basking. Red-eared sliders are easy to identify by the red stripe on the side of the head and yellow lines on throat and legs.
Like lots of the humans you see in New York City, red-eared sliders aren’t from here. Their natural range is in the south to mid-west of the United States. But they are popular pets, and populations founded by released and escaped individuals can be found throughout North America and around the world.
Central Park’s introduced red-eared sliders are thriving and seem to be enjoying the return of turtle season!
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Julie Feinstein
I am a Collection Manager at the American Museum of Natural History, an author, and a photographer. I live in New York City. I recently published my first popular science book, Field Guide to Urban Wildlife, an illustrated collection of natural history essays about common animals. I update my blog, Urban Wildlife Guide, every Sunday.
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