Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta elegans — Emydidae

5–11 inches

IUCN

Least Concern

Federal (US)

None

Virginia

None

VWAP Tier

Not Listed

Habitat

aquaticsemi-aquatic

Found in Virginia

Coastal plain Piedmont

How to identify

Bright red or orange stripe behind each eye
Olive carapace with yellow stripes
Yellow plastron with dark round blotches
Medium to large size, 5–11 inches
Commonly basking on logs with other turtles

About this species

The red-eared slider is not native to Virginia but is widely established after decades of pet releases. They are one of the most recognizable turtles in the world, identified by the bright red stripe behind each eye. While they appear harmless, established populations compete with native turtles for basking sites and food.

Often confused with

Eastern Painted Turtle

Painted turtles lack the red ear stripe and have red markings on the carapace margin rather than on the head

Northern Red-bellied Cooter

Cooters are larger with an arrow-shaped head marking and reddish plastron; no red patch behind eye

Did you know

"Red-eared sliders were sold by the millions as pets in the US until 1975, when the FDA banned the sale of turtles under 4 inches due to Salmonella risks — but adults were still sold and many ended up released into the wild."

SERC rehabilitation notes Introduced but now naturalized in Virginia. SERC accepts red-eared sliders found in the wild for care. They are not native, however, and should never be purchased as pets or released into new waterways.

Sightings & citizen science

Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.

View Red-eared Slider observations on iNaturalist ↗

Found one injured?

If you've found an injured or displaced Red-eared Slider in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.

Triage guide →