Western pond turtle!

[NorCal tortoise guy]

These turtles seem to be harder to find around here as time goes on. They are endangered for sure. So when I noticed this one basking by the pond at work I had to do my best to snap a picture. Here are my attempts. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

 

[turtlesailor]

They are special indeed. I found this one at outdoor mall in suburb city north of Los Angeles. Very unexpected to find this in a complete urban setting. lol
Sadly it no longer there. Might have went back to the near by riverbed. Usually this portion is dry though.

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

I see them in a pond near mount Diablo when the rain fills it up in the winter. I also found a young male in my backyard about a year ago, the nearest body of water is a mile away so we are unsure how it got there. They are beautiful.