Musk turtle I'm a big fan of turtles, but ordinarily, they don't allow me to get too close. Painted turtles, sunning themselves on logs, slip into the water when I approach—I'm never as quiet as I think I am—and snappers either run into the underbrush or turn around and run at me, at which point I opt for not allowing them to get too close. But this turtle, found on a flat rock at the base of a nearby waterfall, was different. I'd been out searching for the last of the Dragonhunter dragonflies that patrol this area when I spotted a small, unusually high-domed shell, and when I climbed down the rocks to examine it, I was surprised that the reptile inside didn't move beyond pulling its head into safety. The turtle stayed put as I photographed it and made note of those large feet and the yellow stripes on its head. It's called a Musk turtle, a.k.a., a Stinkpot, and while they're quite common, they're not often spotted. They tend to keep a low profile in streams and ponds, but I'm guessing they're less concerned about intruders bothering them, since they have that shell—and those musk glands—for protection. Fortunately, I was able to do my work without experiencing any untoward odors.