Turtle Update. I ID'd him as the wrong species of turtle.

What I was lead to believe was a common box turtle (see earlier post), is apparently not. Mac, as my wife named him, appears to be a Slider Turtle. A sharp-eyed biologist saw the earlier post, and said that it appeared the creature in our backyard is not a box turtle.

Bill is a graduate of NC State (Go Wolfpack!!!!), a biologist who has spent his share of time in the swamps and creeks of eastern North Carolina.

So, here we have our turtle, a slider. New pictures I sent him today pretty much confirm what he originally thought.

A Yellow Bellied Slider.

Cool markings when you take the time to look closely.

A shy little guy, though. Gotta do something to bring him out of his shell (pardon the pun with malice aforethought).

They like hanging out on logs, and will slide ride in when you approach.

The scientific stuff says they can get up to about ten inches long, and live a quarter century, maybe a few years longer. Don't tell Robie. She's convinced this one came on board in the 1960's. Who knows? He's likely been living a relaxed life, no stress, and could be one of those that live a lot longer than the average. Or, maybe he's the offspring of the original Mac from the 60's. Mac Junior, perhaps.

No stress, did I say? Well, except for a thorough exam by our cat, EvinRude. Yes, that's what I named him 'cause he purrrrs like a well-tuned Evinrude outboard.

Adult sliders feed on weeds, bugs and carrion (whatever that is). Young ones actually eat meat. Mac chowed down on a little leftover mango yesterday.

Ok, so there you have it. We have a slider turtle living in our back yard. Guess we'll need to get him closer to a swamp, though. Or, I'll be digging a pond out back. AFTER fishing season.