Meet Our Resident
Recognizable by its bright yellow chin and domed shell, Burpee’s Blanding’s Turtle is a symbol of hope for wetland conservation. It spends much of the day exploring shallow water or resting on basking logs.

Connections to the Museum
This species connects visitors to Illinois’ native conservation story. Once common, it now survives only in fragmented wetland pockets. The turtle’s display supports Burpee’s outreach on habitat restoration and endangered species recovery.

Natural History & Behavior
Blanding’s Turtles are semi-aquatic and active during the day. They migrate between wetlands and upland nesting areas, requiring connected habitats. Their lifespan can exceed 70 years, making adult survival critical to population success.

Evolutionary Connections
Part of the Emydidae family, these turtles trace back to the Miocene, when similar semi-aquatic species flourished in prehistoric Illinois. Their persistence mirrors patterns seen in Burpee’s Post-Ice Age Illinois fossil exhibits.

Wild Habitat & Distribution
Found around the Great Lakes and upper Midwest; in Illinois, limited to protected refuges.

Conservation & Status
Listed as Endangered in Illinois. Burpee’s permitted individual serves as a conservation ambassador and educational focus for protecting native wetlands.