Exploring The Different Types of Turtles in Maryland

Maryland, with its gently rolling hills, wild marshlands, sandy dunes, beautiful shoreline, and woodlands, offers some wonderful habitats for turtles. The state boasts eighteen native and three naturalized species. Maryland is one of the twenty-eight states which has a State Reptile – in this case, the diamondback terrapin. The diamondback terrapin is also the official mascot of the University of Maryland’s athletics teams.

Maryland’s Turtle Laws Explained

If you are interested in turtles; keeping them, selling them, or simply observing them, it’s a good idea to know the state laws related to turtles.

Can I Keep Turtles As Pets In Maryland?

You can keep any non-native turtle as a pet in Maryland. However, there is a list of turtles that you are only allowed to keep one as a pet. These are:

• The Wood Turtle
• The Common Snapping Turtle
• The Spotted Turtle
• The Eastern Box Turtle
• The Eastern Painted Turtle
• The Midland Painted Turtle
• The Eastern Mud Turtle
• The Northern Red Bellied Cooter
• The Common Musk Turtle
• The Diamondback Terrapin

There are three turtles that you may keep, but only if they didn’t come from the wild, but from a captive breeding program:

• Wood Turtle
• Spotted Turtle
• Diamondback Terrapin

It is completely against the law to possess bog turtles or spiny softshell turtles in Maryland. It’s also against the law to keep a sea turtle of any kind. In fact, you are not allowed to keep an endangered turtle of any species, native or not. If you have had a turtle for more than thirty days, you are not allowed to release it into the wild, even if it is a native species.

Can I Operate A Commercial Turtle Business In Maryland?

You can operate a turtle business in Maryland provided you have a Captive Reptile and Amphibian Permit. You are not allowed to commercialize any endangered turtle or any sea turtle.

Does The Four Inches Law Apply In Maryland?

The four inches law forbids the keeping of a pet turtle with a carapace length of less than four inches. As this is a Federal law it does of course apply in the State of Maryland. Here is the reference to the four Inch Law.

Code of federal regulations, title 21, volume 8, part 1240 ‘Control of communicable diseases’, subpart D ‘Specific Administrative Decisions Regarding Interstate Shipments’, section 1240.62 ‘Turtles intrastate and interstate requirements.’

What Are The Laws About Taking Turtles From The Wild In Maryland?

You have to have a license to take turtles from the wild. The exception is the snapping turtle if it’s in tidal waters, but you can’t take them with a carapace of under 4″. You are also not allowed to catch them with any tool that will pierce through their shell.

You are not permitted to take any of the following turtles from the wild:

• The Northern Map Turtle
• The Bog Turtle
• The Spiny Softshell Turtle
• The Wood Turtle
• The Spotted Turtle
• The Diamondback Terrapin

People are not allowed to disturb nests or nesting sites, or to take any turtle eggs from the wild.

The Eastern Musk Turtle – Sternotherus odoratus

Often known as the stinkpot (and other less flattering names too) this turtle defends itself when under threat by emitting an unpleasant musky smell, rather like a skunk. This turtle has a rather reduced plastron, or lower shell, making it a little more vulnerable than some other turtles. It has a highly domed carapace, or upper shell, that is dark brown in color and is often seen coated in green algae.

Only growing to 4 ½” in size (with the occasional giant 5″ specimen) it lives in slow-moving waters and is found throughout the state, although it is more concentrated along the coastal plain. Mainly out at night, it is advisable not to handle this animal, as it has a bit of a temper and will cover you with stink if he’s not happy.

The Eastern Mud Turtle – Kinosternon subrubrum

Another small turtle growing to 4 ½”. It has a larger plastron than its relative, the musk turtle. The plastron has two easily seen hinges. The carapace is dark brown, oval, and smooth with a sudden swoop down at the rear. Yellow markings can be seen along the margin. It likes to live in ditches, ponds, marshes, and any place where there is slow-moving water with a muddy bottom. It’s mainly found along the coastal plain.

The Eastern Box Turtle – Terrapene carolina

One of our favorite turtles, the box turtle grows to a carapace length of around 6″. Its high domed carapace, or upper shell, is dark brown in color with beautiful patterns in orange, yellow, and pale green. The skin is dark brown or black with many vivid orange stripes and splashes.

Like all box turtles, the Eastern box turtle has a hinged plastron, or lower shell, which can close up so tightly that it is almost impossible to open him up. This defense mechanism helps protect him from predators that prey on small turtles and scoop out their insides – such as raccoons. Males have bright red eyes, whereas females almost always have yellowish eyes. They spend most of their time on the land, but on hot days they can be found in shallow water or cool mud. They are widely distributed throughout the state.

The Spotted Turtle – Clemmys guttata

Another tiny turtle growing to just 4 ½” long. They are easily identified by their dark brown, almost black carapace which is dotted with pale yellow spots. These spots may be faded in older individuals. Males can be distinguished from females by eye color. Males have brown eyes and females have orange eyes.

They like to live in bogs, swamps, marshes, ditches, ponds, and small streams. They can tolerate brackish water and are found throughout the state.

The Bog Turtle – Glyptemys muhlenbergii

The bog turtle is one of the Maryland turtles which is designated Federal & State Threatened. The smallest turtle in America, it has a dark-colored, highly domed carapace and is most easily recognized by the bright reddish-orange splash of color on the side of its face and neck. (Sometimes this patch is white).

This turtle just loves to live in areas where the soil is wet and rich in organic matter. They like to be close to gently flowing streams and to have soft soil in which to burrow. These are found in very small areas of south and central Maryland. Should you spot one, please do report it to the Maryland wildlife and Heritage Service.

The Wood Turtle – Glyptemys insculpta

The wood turtle grows to 7 ½” long. He is named not for the places he likes to like, but for the woody appearance of his carapace. The bottom of its chin and its legs are orange or red in color. They actually do like to live in forested or woodland areas, in meadows, and in fields. These prefer to be close to clear running water with a gravel bottom. They are mainly found in the western part of the state.

The Diamond-backed Terrapin – Malaclemys terrapin

Maryland’s State Reptile, the diamond-backed terrapin is found mainly east of the Fall Line. Growing to 9″ long, this turtle has a pattern of concentric rings on the scutes of its carapace, or upper shell. Each individual is differently patterned. The skin around the mouth may be pinkish-yellow with a black “mustache.” They like to live near tidal rivers and estuaries, and can often be found on sandy beaches where they lay their eggs.

The Northern Map – Turtle Graptemys geographica

This turtle is designated as State Endangered. This is one of the species that demonstrate sexual dimorphism, with the females being a great deal larger than the males, growing to 11″, whereas the males may be as small as 3 ½” as adults. They have a beautifully patterned carapace, with markings that look like the contour lines on a map. They like to live large, in spacious waters that are deep and have plenty of vegetation. A muddy bottom and a good choice of basking spots make for the ideal location for the northern map turtle. They are found in Harford and Cecil counties only.

The False Map Turtle – Graptemys psuedogeographica

This species is designated as having been introduced – it is not a true native. Sightings of this species should be reported. The false map turtle looks rather like the northern map turtle, but it has spiny protuberances in the dorsal area. . Should you spot one, please do report it to the Maryland wildlife and Heritage Service.

The Eastern Painted Turtle – Chrysemys picta picta

This lovely turtle grows to around 6 ½” long. It has a dark carapace with light green stripes. The head shows two vivid yellow spots on either side. The plastron is bright mustard yellow. These are often spotted basking in groups on debris rafts and logs. They like slow-moving water, and quite a bit of vegetation. You can find these turtles throughout the state of Maryland.

The Midland Painted Turtle – Chrysemys picta marginata

These are very similar to the eastern painted turtle, and they are located almost exclusively in the far west of Virginia.

The Red-eared Slider – Trachemys scripta elegans

This is an introduced species, not a Virginia native. Look for a turtle with a wide red stripe behind its eye. It’s a large turtle with a carapace that can be 15″ long. The carapace is domed, dark greenish-brown, and the plastron is light yellow.

They like lazy, slow waters; ponds, streams, marshy areas, and small lakes. Found in central and northern parts of Virginia, they arrived thanks to people releasing unwanted pets into the wild.

The Yellow-bellied Slider – Trachemys scripta scripta

This is another introduced species, once again, due to people releasing pets into the wild. This is a smaller turtle than the red-eared slider, growing to around 8″, with distinctive yellow markings on the head, neck, and the edge of the carapace, as well as the plastron.

You can find them in ditches, lakes, ponds, and rivers. They are found in small numbers throughout the state. If you spot one, you should report it to the Maryland wildlife and Heritage Service.

The Northern Red-bellied Cooter – Pseudemys rubriventris

This is a very handsome turtle that can you can easily spot basking in the sun. It gets its name from its dark brown, red-lined shell and reddish plastron. These turtles can grow to about 13′ long, with the females being a little larger than the males. It’s also known as the Northern redbelly cooter turtle and it’s quite easy to confuse it with other similar-looking turtles.

They like to live in lakes, ponds, streams, and marshy areas, but they do choose dry sandy, or gravelly areas to be their nesting sites. These mainly feed on vegetation. They are found throughout the state, especially in the Coastal Plain.

The Snapping Turtle – Chelydra serpentine

The common snapping turtle can grow up to 70 lb in weight. Males grow larger than females. Individuals have been known to live for over a hundred years. A large specimen can grow to 14″ long, and it can be recognized by its large knobby head, which might have barbels, its long neck, and its extremely strong and powerful legs. This turtle has a very long neck and this gives it its Latin name – serpentine – meaning snake-like.

Even though they can be very aggressive when on land when they are in the water they are kind of bashful and will swim away from danger. They prefer water that has a muddy bottom which they use as a hiding place, but they really don’t mind where they live, and that includes brackish water. They are easy to spot throughout the state of Maryland.

The Spiny Softshell – Apalone spinifera

One of the largest freshwater turtles in the United States this animal has a flat pancake-like shell that feels a bit like rubber. It has small spines along the edge of the shell, giving it its name. Females are large, growing to about 16″ long, but the males only make it to about 10″ long. They have a very pointed, almost pig-like nose that is used like a snorkel to breathe when under water. In color, it ranges from brown to brownish yellow. The plastron is pale lemon to white in color.

Spending most of its life in the water, it’s a very strong swimmer. It likes large open areas of water without a lot of vegetation or obstructions. This is designated by the state as “In Need Of Conservation.” It is very rare in Maryland, being found only in Garrett County. . If you spot one, please do report it to the Maryland wildlife and Heritage Service.