Endangered Western Painted Turtle found with a critical injury

In October, 2025, a special patient arrived in critical condition at our wildlife centre. This Western Painted Turtle was found along the edge of a lake in rough shape; she had a severe neck wound and signs of infection. Each day she was in care, our medical team carefully cleaned her wound and kept her comfortable with anti-inflammatory medication to ease the swelling. During her recovery, she feasted on plenty of bloodworms and mealworms, which were important parts of her diet in care. Her enclosure was a perfectly equipped recovery space, with water for her to swim, hiding spots, and sun-bathing spots with an attached heat lamp to keep her warm. Thanks to this high-level of care, just seven days later she was ready to return back into the wild! Western Painted Turtles are an endangered species in B.C., threatened by urban development, water pollution, and roads that cut through their nesting routes.

Our team is able to help endangered species, like the Western Painted Turtle, return to their natural homes all thanks to the wildlife community’s generous support.

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