Turtles are Part of the Dining Experience - We Find 5 Different Species During Lunch!

We Found 5 Turtle Species at a Texas BBQ Restaurant Today we’re in southern Texas looking for wild turtles, starting in the Colorado River — and somehow, one of the best turtle spots of the day turned out to be County Line BBQ in Austin. After starting in high, cloudy water and spotting Spiny Softshell Turtles, Texas Cooters, and Texas Map Turtles from a distance, we headed to County Line BBQ, where wild turtles were basking, swimming, and coming right up near the dock. With permission, we got in the water and found an incredible mix of Texas turtle species. In this video, we see Texas Map Turtles, Texas Cooters, Red-Eared e Sliders, Common Musk Turtles / Stinkpots, and Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtles. We also talk about sexual dimorphism in Map Turtles, why male Texas Map Turtles stay so tiny, how huge female Sliders can get, why Red-Eared Sliders are both beloved and problematic, and what makes Texas Cooters one of the coolest American turtle species. Featured species: Texas Map Turtle — Graptemys versa Texas Cooter — Pseudemys texana Red-Eared Slider — Trachemys scripta elegans Common Musk Turtle / Stinkpot — Sternotherus odoratus Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtle Also featured: Colorado River County Line BBQ in Austin, Texas Wild turtle observation Turtle field herping Texas turtle diversity Map Turtle sexual dimorphism Macrocephalic Musk Turtles Gravid female turtles Native Texas turtles Responsible wild turtle handling Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:29 Searching for turtles in the Colorado River 01:26 High water and tough visibility 01:55 Texas map turtles spotted across the river 04:03 Roadside tarantula surprise 05:06 County Line BBQ turtle hotspot 05:57 Texas map turtle comes right up 06:38 First turtle catches at the restaurant 07:40 Texas map turtle and common musk turtle 08:44 Giant red-eared slider 10:54 Light-colored stinkpot musk turtle 13:02 Why you should herp with better herpers 13:39 Texas map turtle close-up 15:23 Another stinkpot 16:06 Male vs female musk turtles 18:04 Texas cooter 20:11 Male and female Texas map turtles 21:51 Releasing the turtles 22:24 Wrapping up with Chris Drake 23:46 Five turtle species in one spot 24:31 Subscribe 24:57 End screen Huge thanks to Chris Drake, Brendan Hettinger, Andrew Hermes, and the crew at County Line BBQ for helping make this Texas turtle adventure happen. Business / Sponsorship / Collaborations: [email protected] Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes. Wild turtles should not be collected or removed from their habitat. Always follow local laws, obtain permission when entering private property or managed spaces, and handle wildlife only when appropriate, legal, and safe for both the animal and the people involved. #Turtles #TexasTurtles #Wildlife #AnimalFacts #Nature