Painted Turtle Found on Road

Painted turtles are the most common and widespread turtle in the U.S., found from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Mexico to Canada.

This little lady was found in the middle of the road, and I stopped, turned around, and picked her up.  I think she is female, because she was found pretty far from the water and I think she may be returning from laying eggs.  

Unlike dry land box turtles, which are very territorial, Painted Turtles do well in any calm stretch of water, and so this 5.5 inch long lady is now a resident of my back yard pond.  If there's not enough sun for her there, she will head downhill to a neighbor's or to the Potomac River.