*See eye-to-eye with turtles in Milwaukee*

Who doesn’t like turtles? They’re easily one of the coolest reptiles.

Turtles have their own national day (May 23 for those marking their calendar), but these fascinating creatures can be celebrated year-round in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is fortunate enough to have nature centers and opportunities to get up close and personal with these turtally-awesome animals.

Here's a guide to some notable locations where you can encounter and learn more about local heroes in a half shell.

Discovery World

Located on Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront, Discovery World is a hub of science, technology, engineering, and freshwater exploration. This interactive museum brings learning to life with hands-on exhibits, live animal encounters, and engaging STEM experiences for the whole family. There are a host of different turtle species at Discovery World, including a group turtle exhibit just behind the touch tanks that includes a few Red-Eared Sliders, Northern Map Turtles, and a Painted Turtle. Here are a few friendly turtles you can meet at Discovery World.

Salt and Peppa

Meet Salt and Peppa, Discovery World’s two resident wood turtles—both males around eight years old. These hardy turtles hail from the Northeastern U.S. and Southeastern Canada, where they’ve adapted to survive harsh winters by brumating underwater. Instead of breathing the usual way, they draw oxygen from the water while lying low under logs and leaves. Once warmer weather returns, wood turtles love basking in the sun, foraging for food, and even doing a clever “worm stomp” to trick earthworms into surfacing. Check out Discovery World’s daily Animal Encounters every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—an excellent opportunity to see these fascinating creatures up close and discover ways to help them thrive for years to come.

Box Turtles Beep and Boop

Beep is a Three-Toed Box Turtle. These turtles have a domed shell which grows to an average 4.5 inches in length. They like to live near shallow water where they can drink soak, hydrate, and hunt for insects. Beep is shy and likes to curl up in their shell. Boop is an Ornate Box Turtle. This turtle has a unique and highly specialized habitat requirement that allows the turtle to survive in Wisconsin. In dry sand prairies deep sand deposits create the opportunity for this turtle to overwinter deep enough to avoid freezing in winter. (These are endangered in Wisconsin). Boop is very outgoing and loves to strike a pose when the cameras are around. Visit the box turtles in the Great Lakes Future exhibit right near Lake Superior

Tortilla the Spiney Softshell Turtle

Located along Lake Erie in our Great Lakes Future Exhibit. Tortilla loves to hide under the tiny rocks in his exhibit. Sometimes all you can see is his snout peeking through.

Linnaeus the Blanding's Turtle

Located along Lake Michigan in our Great Lakes Future Exhibit. He has a perpetual smile and loves to watch guests walk by.

Wolverine the Red-Eared Slider

Located along Lake Michigan in the Great Lakes Future Exhibit. Wolverine LOVES to swim and constantly looks like he's dancing in his exhibit. He loves to wiggle himself under the elements in his exhibit to hide.

Havenwoods State Forest

With its rich wetlands and diverse wildlife, Havenwoods State Forest is a hidden gem in Milwaukee. This urban natural area provides a sanctuary for countless species, including a remarkable resident—the Blanding’s turtle. Known for its striking yellow throat and friendly-looking "smile," this turtle is a special sight for visitors exploring the park’s ponds and marshes.

Boxanne the Blanding’s Turtle

Boxanne the Blanding Turtle at Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee — *Photo by Kay Collins of* *KBC Tour Company*

Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are semi-aquatic creatures that enjoy the best of both worlds, spending time in both water and on land. They prefer grassy marshes, quiet ponds, rivers, and lakes, where they can hunt for their favorite foods like crayfish, insects, minnows, and aquatic plants. While they are often found basking in the sun, they are also known to travel over land in search of food or nesting sites.

Visitors to Havenwoods State Forest can see the turtles being fed on select Saturdays. This is a great opportunity to learn about their diet, habitat, and conservation. If you love turtles, be sure to stop by and witness these fascinating creatures up close!

This particular Blanding’s turtle at Havenwoods is over 50 years old, with a birth year of 1972. Given that these turtles can live up to 80 years, it’s likely this one has seen many changes in the surrounding habitat over the decades! If you're lucky enough to visit Havenwoods and catch a glimpse of this turtle, here’s how you can recognize it:

Bright yellow neck and chin make it easy to distinguish.
Dark shell with black speckles that blends in with the marshy surroundings.
Friendly-looking “smile” due to the shape of its jaw.

Schlitz Audubon Center

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center features 185 acres of diverse ecosystems, including forests, ponds, and wetlands. The center is home to various turtle species, such as painted turtles and snapping turtles. Visitors can explore six miles of hiking trails, with Mystery Lake being a popular spot to observe turtles basking on logs or swimming near the boardwalk. Additionally, the center houses Emerson, a resident snapping turtle who serves as an educational ambassador.

Emerson the Snapping Turtle

Emerson is the resident snapping turtle at Schlitz Audubon Center, where he has lived for more than two decades. He was initially discovered abandoned in an apartment bathtub, and after a short period at the Milwaukee Public Museum, he made his forever home at the Schlitz Audubon Center. Emerson serves as a prominent educational animal, engaging with thousands of visitors each year. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are frequently found throughout Wisconsin, typically living around 30 to 40 years in their natural habitats, but they can survive up to 45 years in captivity. Emerson is estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old, suggesting that he will remain with us for several more years.

In his newly designed 540-gallon tank, he swims against a custom backdrop that features a waterfall and a basking rock that can comfortably support his weight of over 13 pounds. Emerson enjoys year-round comfort, feasting on a diet that includes weekly mice, apples (his favorite treat), romaine lettuce, and kale. His lighting system provides essential basking light and UV rays, which are crucial for maintaining his metabolic and physical well-being.

Totally Turtles!

Turtle at teh Schlitz Audubon Center — *Totally Turtles! takes place on Saturday, March 8*

On Saturday, March 8, Schlitz Audubon Center will host a special meet and greet with turtle ambassadors. Learn unique characteristics of each species and how they care for both them and the habitats of their wild cousins at the Center. After an up close and hands on experience with our turtles, participants will get to take a photo with one of an ambassadors and create a turtle craft to take home. This program is designed for all ages, children and adults alike.

Mequon Nature Preserve

Encompassing 510 acres with six miles of trails, the Mequon Nature Preserve features restored wetlands and ponds that provide ideal habitats for turtles. While specific turtle species are not extensively documented, the preserve's diverse aquatic environments make it a promising location for turtle observations. Exploring the trails and visiting the observation tower can offer rewarding wildlife experiences.

Fauna the Ornate Box Turtle

Meet Fauna, the Ornate Box Turtle! Ornate Box turtles, Terrapene ornata, are an Endangered Species in Wisconsin. They are the only native box turtle in the state and can only be found in the southwest part of Wisconsin. They are more commonly found in Texas and the Great Plains. Box turtles get their name because of the hinge on their plastron (flat part of turtle shell/bottom of turtle) that can bend and “box” the turtle inside its shell; thereby protecting it from predators. They can live to be over 40 years old and grow to be around 6 inches long. They eat different types of vegetables and fruits, as well as worms and insects. Say hi to Fauna next time you come to the Education Center!

Myrtle the Blanding’s Turtle

Meet Myrtle the Blanding’s Turtle! Blanding’s Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii, are a Species of Special Concern in Wisconsin. They grow to be up to a foot long and live to be close to 50 years old. They are a cold tolerant species and can be found in ponds, small lakes, wetlands, and quiet rivers. They are able to eat on land and in the water, unlike other Wisconsin turtle species. They will eat insects, frogs, crayfish, fish, plants, and worms. Myrtle loves worms and strawberries!

Urban Ecology Center

With multiple locations in Milwaukee, the Urban Ecology Center provides urban green spaces where wildlife thrives. At the Riverside Park branch, visitors have reported sightings of snapping turtles, especially during the nesting season. The center offers educational programs and guided walks, enhancing the chances of encountering turtles and learning about their behaviors.

Peanut the ornate box turtle

Have you ever hung out with a turtle while it eats its lunch? Now you can. Touch or hold the animals as you learn what they eat and other facts about them at the Public Animal Feeding at Riverside Park, every Saturday from 12 - 2 pm. Registration not required.

Milwaukee County Zoo

The Milwaukee County Zoo houses several turtle species within its Aquatic & Reptile Center. Notable residents include the South American River Turtle and the Fly River Turtle. These exhibits provide an opportunity to learn about turtle species from around the world and observe them up close in environments that mimic their natural habitats.

Onassis the giant Amazon River turtle

Sea turtles from the Amazon — *Find Onassis in the Amazon River tank inside the Aquatic Reptile Center*

Meet the zoo’s OLDEST resident! Onassis estimated to be over 100 years old and weighing 120 pounds. She arrived at the zoo on February 14, 1969, from a Miami animal importer, though her actual birth date remains unknown. Visitors can find this remarkable turtle in the Amazon River tank inside the Aquatic Reptile Center, where she continues to inspire appreciation for the resilience and longevity of these fascinating creatures.

Wehr Nature Center

Located in Whitnall Park, Wehr Nature Center features accessible park trails and facilities, including a 1-mile All Abilities loop trail with a hard surface boardwalk, an accessible pier overlooking Mallard Lake, and an observation blind under expansion. The Visitor Center exhibits and restrooms are universally designed for comfort and convenience.

Louise the Wood Turtle

Louise arrived at Wehr in 1992, making her one of the Franklin park’s longest residents. She’s an Animal Ambassador, enthralling visitors and going out into the community to teach about Wisconsin turtles and share why she’s a Threatened Species. Stop in to our Reptile Room and catch her snoozing under her heat lamp or submerged in her swim tank.

Turtle Park

Situated along a scenic bend in the Milwaukee River, Turtle Park serves as a transition between the urban Riverwalk and the natural river valley upstream. The area is known for its turtle sightings, especially during warmer months when turtles are active. The park offers a peaceful setting to observe these reptiles in their natural environment.

Tips for Turtle Watching:

Timing: Turtles are most active during warm days, particularly in the morning. Visiting during these times increases the likelihood of sightings.
Habitats: Look for turtles in ponds, wetlands, and along riverbanks. They often bask on logs or rocks near the water's edge.
Respect: Maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing the turtles. Move slowly and quietly to observe their natural behaviors.
Conservation: Participate in local conservation efforts, such as the Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, by reporting sightings and supporting habitat preservation initiatives.

Milwaukee Guide to Turtles