The bog turtle reaches an adult length of only four to five inches, which makes it the smallest turtle in North America. The bog turtle has a dark-brown shell with a distinctive red, orange, or yellow marking on either side of its neck. It inhabits wetland areas such as wet meadows and bogs, and it has even been found in cattle pastures and beaver complexes in western North Carolina. It is an omnivorous reptile that feeds on worms, beetles, and snails along with various plant parts, including small berries.

Bog turtles typically become sexually mature at five to eight years of age and breed in the late spring or early summer. Females lay two or three eggs that hatch in August, September or October. Nest sites are generally located on elevated patches of sphagnum moss or sedges in a sunny area.

Bog turtles spend most of their time under the water, buried in mud, or hiding in thick vegetation, making them very difficult to locate. Therefore, their population numbers are often hard to estimate. Fewer than 100 bog turtle populations have been documented in North Carolina.

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