From Werling Wildlife

Well this one is bizarre. If you keep a wild animal as an illegal pet, oftentimes the DNR steps in to confiscate that animal. Sometimes it is euthanized and sometimes it goes to a rehabber. This painted turtle lived at a hoarding house for almost 7 years in a tank filled with dirt because they thought he was a box turtle until the DNR got involved and confiscated. He’s clearly not a box turtle, which is a land turtle. Painted turtles are aquatic turtles and live mostly in the water!

Here’s the weirdest thing about this: the turtle’s nails have been trimmed. In the wild, many male aquatic turtles have naturally long front claws used for courtship, climbing, and digging. They will wear their claws down naturally as they use them. Even in captivity, it’s rare to need a trim - it would only be necessary if they are so long they are tripping on them. But these nails are trimmed nearly all the way down, leaving this turtle without the ability to shred his food, climb a log to bask in the sun, or impress a lady. He’s been debilitated.

It’s going to be a LONG time before his nails regrow and we can evaluate him for release. For now, he’ll have easy food served in his tank since he belongs in the water. 🌊🐢

How the claws should look:

Photo by Teri Vivian