Western Pond Turtles:

Habitat and History in Oregon

History of the Western Pond Turtle:
The Western Pond Turtle is native to the Pacific Coast of the United States. Its historical range is from the Puget Sound area in Washington to Baja California, extending into Canada. There are two sub-species of the Western Pond Turtle: the Southwestern Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata pallida) which occurs from Monterey Bay southward, and the Northwestern Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata marmorata) found north of the Sacramento Valley.

While the Western Pond Turtle still inhabits the same historical range, their population within the range has declined dramatically.

Turtles are at risk of predation from both wildlife and domestic pets.  They are easily killed by cars on roads, and are losing prime nesting sites due to human development.  In addition, non-native plants have altered terrestrial habitat, and crucial waterways have been dammed, diverted, and/or polluted. 

The population of the Western Pond Turtle is difficult to estimate due to the lack of accurate tracking methods and devices used to locate nesting sites.

The greatest danger facing Oregon's turtle population is low juvenile recruitment and habitat fragmentation. Existing populations in Oregon are becoming increasingly older, while fewer juveniles survive to replenish their numbers.