Fairview’s Painted Turtles Vandalized: Found in Trash Cans

Earlier this week, a disturbing scene unfolded in several Fairview parks. Someone – no one has claimed responsibility – reached into the shallow, vegetated ponds where Western painted turtles usually bask and, quite literally, pulled them out. The turtles were later spotted stuffed into garbage cans scattered around the same parks.

City officials were alerted after a Parks Department crew found the injured reptiles among the refuse. "Painted turtles are native wildlife, not an invasive species, and they deserve our respect," the department wrote in a public reminder. The statement also highlighted that Oregon’s two native turtles – the Western painted turtle and the Western pond turtle – are already battling competition from aggressive non‑native species like the red‑eared slider.

The Western painted turtle, recognizable by its bright red, yellow and olive markings on the neck, head, tail, legs and lower shell, prefers slow‑moving, shallow water with plenty of aquatic plants and sunny basking spots. Seeing one out of the water isn’t automatically a sign of distress; they often wander onto land to find a safe place to dry off.

Nevertheless, the act of dumping these creatures into trash bins does nothing to help their already precarious situation. If you happen upon a painted turtle, here’s a quick checklist:

• Leave it where you found it, if possible.
• Do not place it in a garbage container or move it out of the park.
• If it’s in immediate danger – for example, crossing a road – gently guide it to safety, keeping it moving in the same direction it was heading.
• Observe from a distance and enjoy the encounter.

The Parks Department urges residents to treat these turtles with care and to report any suspicious activity. Their continued survival depends on community stewardship as much as on official conservation efforts.