A few years ago I spotted a baby turtle swimming in our backyard pond when mowing the yard. I never saw it again, and certain members of the family thought I was seeing things. I spotted another one in the pond while working in the yard this weekend. This time Stout and I were able to take some photographs. Kelly also witnessed the find.

I suspect the one I saw before was eaten by a bullfrog. We no longer tolerate bullfrog tenants, so maybe this little turtle (which could be a baby snapper Yellow Bellied Slider!) will survive longer. We also no longer have goldfish, so the pond is now a wild free-for-all. No bullfrogs invited, though.

Kelly’s theory is that the minows and lake water she and Claire brought to the pond (to eat mosquitos and bugs) earlier in the year may have included a turtle egg. Maybe so. He does have little webbed feet and is an excellent swimmer.