We don't see as many turtles in our parks as we wish but this Midland Painted turtle was out for a stroll on a sunny day. From the number of scraps and marks on its shell we would say this turtle has been around for awhile. Turtles can live for many years but their biggest threat is from traveling across highways during their breeding seasons. If you see a turtle and it is safe to stop - stop and move them off the road in the same direction they are headed.
Salamanders are a species that have inhabited our Earth for a long time - longer than 200 million years ago. The population of Seal Salamanders at Buttermilk Falls has lived here for many years also.