Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, BLM and U.S. Forest Service: The preceding checklist contains the 25 native amphibian species and 21 native reptile species known in Washington.
This page lists 9 turtles: 3 from Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, BLM and U.S. Forest Service's Checklist of Washington Amphibians and Reptiles, plus WDFW and Burke pages for sea turtles and invasive turtles and 6 named in other official sources.
3 are nonnative.
Range: Some of the turtles foraging off the west coast of North America, including Washington, nest in western New Guinea. Numbers of turtles visiting Washington's waters are unknown, but telemetry data suggests abundance may be higher than indicated by the few sightings.
Adults 2.5 to 3.5 feet long and 200 to 350 pounds (NOAA). NCWRC gives 31 to 45 inches shell length and 170 to 350 pounds; SCDNR says adults can weigh as much as 300 pounds and reach up to four feet in shell length.
How to recognize it
Very large head with powerful jaws.
Slightly heart-shaped top shell.
Two pairs of scales (prefrontal scutes) between the eyes above the nostrils; two claws on each flipper.
Where in Washington
Most records along the United States west coast are of juveniles along the coast of California, with very few sightings reported off Washington, Oregon, and northward to … Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Conservation
state endangered
What the sources say
Range: Most records along the United States west coast are of juveniles along the coast of California, with very few sightings reported off Washington, Oregon, and northward to Alaska.
Habitat: Loggerhead sea turtles mostly inhabit continental shelf and nearshore marine waters, but occur in the open sea during migration. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Range: The range of the northwestern pond turtle extends from the Puget Sound Lowlands in Washington, the Columbia River Gorge in Washington and Oregon, down through western Oregon and California, and south to Baja California. Northwestern pond turtles disappeared from the Puget lowlands by the 1980s, with only a few isolated adult turtles remaining.
Habitat: In Washington, northwestern pond turtles occur in open upland habitats that receive extensive sun exposure such as prairies in the Puget Sound region, oak-pine savanna and other more open forest types in the Columbia Gorge, and pasture. (Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, BLM and U.S. Forest Service)
No confirmed photo of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Range: Painted turtles have been documented in all Washington ecoregions but most occurrences are at the lower elevations of eastern Washington, the Columbia Gorge and the Puget Trough. The species was likely introduced to the Puget Sound region as the earliest records (Marysville – 1958, Bigelow Lake – 1960, and Ravenna Park – 1967) are relatively recent and associated with urban and residential areas.
Adult leatherbacks differ from all other sea turtles, including the loggerhead, in their large size, spindle-shaped body and leathery shell without scales.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When turtles are active in Washington
Records of turtles in Washington peak in April to June and September. They show when people record turtles, not how many there are (about month bars).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
255 records of turtles in Washington by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
How to report
Dangerous wildlife: emergency 911; non-emergency 877-933-9847 or the WDFW online report. Invasive species: Washington Invasive Species Council web form or WA Invasives app; aquatic invasive species hotline 1-888-WDFW-AIS, [email protected]. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. Burke Museum (Washington State Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Common snapping turtle. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Spiny softshell turtle. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Dangerous wildlife. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“For non-emergency dangerous wildlife complaints, call 877-933-9847, or submit an online report.”
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