Liberty Science Center’s latest traveling gallery is “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer,” featuring the beloved cartoon characters in an interactive exhibition on the 4th floor. But Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael aren’t the only turtles you can find around here…

When our Animal Interpretation team recently took a walk around Liberty State Park, they came across a very different type of turtle: a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Native to New Jersey, these are the largest turtles found in the state, reaching up 2 feet in length! Typically, they like to bury themselves in mud in shallow water. However, this one was likely a female searching for a place to lay her eggs.

Chelydra serpentina

There are many other species of turtles that live in New Jersey as well, such as the wood turtle, the Eastern box turtle, and the diamondback terrapin – all of which you may be able to see at the Science Center! It is important to learn about these animals to help protect them in the wild. Habitat loss affects all these turtles, especially the wood turtle, which is a threatened species. When you encounter a wild turtle, remember that as with all wild animals, you should never attempt to handle them or remove them from their native habitat. Instead, observe and take pictures of them from a safe distance to make them feel like the real shell-ebrities they are!

Whether you visit our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gallery, LSC’s resident turtles, or go turtle-watching in Liberty State Park, there are so many ways to shell-ebrate your love of turtles here at Liberty Science Center this summer!