Turtles need to bask (lie in the sun on a dry surface) since it aids in the digestion of their food (the heat speeds up their metabolism). You will often find turles sunning themselves on a log or rock. If such natural sunning spots are not available, people can help by setting up basking platforms, and this is what I did on my property. I recycled an old laundry platform (made out of cedar 2 x 6s) and fixed one end to a log so that it dipped into the water.
In this photo we see three Midland Painted turles sharing the platform with a Mallard duck (who doesn't need to bask - he's presumably just enjoying a warm sunny day).
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