Red-Eared Slider
The teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were red-eared sliders.
Non-native to Colorado; considered one of top 100 most invasive species in the world because they are popular pets which are often released into the wild when they get too big. This negatively impacts the smaller, Colorado-native western painted turtle.
They typically live 20-30 years.
Over the winter they “brumate” (similar to hibernating) at the bottom of the water or under a rock. They occasionally rise to the surface for food or air.
Many turtles are omnivores, eating insects and small fish when they are younger so they have plenty of protein to grow. As they get older, their diet becomes vegetarian consisting of aquatic plants.