One for the record books – largest Western Painted Turtle found in Regina

REGINA – Researchers in Regina have discovered what is thought to be the largest Western Painted Turtle ever recorded.

The female turtle, which boasts a shell length of 26.6 cm, was found by University of Regina graduate student Kelsey Marchand and assistant Alyssa Stulberg.

“As far as we can tell, this is the largest Western Painted Turtle ever recorded,” Marchand said.

Their research, led by the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the University of Regina and the Friends of Wascana Marsh, is meant to help gain a better understanding of Saskatchewan’s turtle ecology.

“It makes us hopeful that this is a sign of a healthy population,” Marchand said.

Turtles grow slowly, and it is thought that this particular turtle could be upwards of 100 years old.

“Turtles are long-lived and slow growing, these two big turtles were likely in Regina when the Riders won their first Grey Cup back in 1966 and they just may have been here when Saskatchewan joined Confederation in 1905,” Royal Saskatchewan Museum Research Scientist Ray Poulin said.

The turtle (as well as another large turtle discovered earlier in the week) have been fitted with radio transmitters and released back into the wild.