What can make a painted turtle smile? Is it a sunny log? Is it a mouthful of mayflies? Is it the pond near your house? We decided to investigate to find out. ...but first we needed to make music with Fisher in the mud kitchen. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8356","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-88 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"IMG_0421"}}]] ...And then we had to pretend we had shells. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8361","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-89 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"IMG_0425"}}]] But after that, we were definitely ready for the hike all the way down to the beaver pond. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8366","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-90 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"880","alt":"IMG_0427"}}]] We made it to Beaver Pond! We investigated all that mud. Turns out, leeches live in that water. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8371","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-91 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"IMG_0430"}}]] Eastern Newts live there too. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8376","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-92 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"IMG_0431"}}]] Although, what we came here for is TURTLES! [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8381","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-93 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"IMG_0433"}}]] This little fella was so small she fit in our collection containers (a.k.a. yogurt cups). [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8386","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-94 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"IMG_0434"}}]] Very carefully, we all took turns putting her in our cup and getting to have a chance to take a peak up-close. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"8391","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-95 size-large","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"660","height":"495","alt":"turtle group"}}]] Its not everyday that you can see a turtle swim, right in your hand. After we all had a turn, we let her go and continued to explore the mud-flat landscape around the pond. It was a fine turtle day indeed.