Home / Weed & Pest Directory / Species / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

SWCD Branded Separator
Red-eared slider. Photo Credit: ODFW

Also known as: Red-eared terrapin

Red-eared sliders are world travelers. They have been introduced to every continent except Antarctica. Due to their popularity as household pets, red-eared sliders often get released into natural areas when their owner no longer wants them. After release, they outcompete Oregon’s native turtles for food, basking, and nesting locations.

Description:

Early Detection and Rapid Response species:Yes
General Description:Red-eared sliders are medium sized freshwater turtles. Their top shell (carapace) and skin are dark brown with yellow stripes running down their head, neck, and legs.

Their bottom shell (plastron) is usually yellow and has two rows of dark blotches. Females are larger than males, while males have thicker and longer tails.
Distinguishing Features:Red-eared sliders have a distinctive thick red stripe behind each of their eyes. As turtles age, this red line fades.

Unlike the smooth-edged shell of Oregon’s native western pond turtle, the edge of red-eared sliders’ shells are serratedSerrated Having a jagged edge..
Size:Adults weigh up to 6 pounds and grow up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) long.
Life Cycle:Turtles can live up to 20 years.

Female red-eared sliders lay up to 30 eggs beginning in May through July. Females dig holes in the soil to deposit their eggs.

Habitat:

  • Red-eared sliders live in areas with calm, warm freshwater including creeks, rivers, manmade ditches, ponds, and lakes.
  • They rarely spend time on land but are often found basking on logs or other objects protruding from water.

Impact:

  • Red-eared sliders compete with native turtles for food, habitat, nesting, and basking sites.
  • They also transmit parasites and diseases to native animals, as well as Salmonella to humans.

What you we’re doing about it:

  • Red-eared sliders are a priority species for the Tualatin SWCD and our partners. As such, our Invasive Species Program is actively monitoring and trapping them throughout the watershed.
  • If identified within Washington County, a specially trained crew can come out and collect the turtle for you.

What you can do about it:

  • If you think you’ve found a red-eared slider in Oregon, please report it to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
  • Always remember to protect yourself from Salmonella when handling turtles. Make sure to wear gloves or sanitize hands after contact.
  • If you or someone you know has an unwanted aquarium pet, contact the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife at 503-947-6301 or email.

Look-alikes:

Western painted turtle basking
Western painted turtle. Photo credit: ODFW

Red-eared sliders are confused with native western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta). Both have yellow stripes on their heads, neck, and legs. Western painted turtles do not have the distinctive red stripe behind their eyes and the edge of its shell is smooth.

Northwestern pond turtle basking
Northwestern pond turtle. Photo credit: Keith Kohl, ODFW

They are also confused with the native northwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata). Northwestern Pond turtles have dark brown skin but lack yellow stripes.

More Resources: