Bighorn Basin Residents Asked to Spot & Report Spiny Turtles
Written by Andrew-Rossi on May 19, 2021
As part of an ongoing research study, biologists with Wyoming Game and Fish are asking Bighorn Basin residents to report sightings of a rare turtle.
The spiny softshell turtle is one of the largest turtles in the Bighorn Basin and North America. They have a soft, flat, rubbery outer shell, and females can grow up to 20 inches long – twice as large as males.
While common in several U.S. states, these turtles have one of the greatest conservation needs in Wyoming due to their restricted range. Although populations are thought to be stable in eastern Wyoming, the public, local landowners, and regional biologists have reported declines throughout the Bighorn Basin.