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Why do some painted turtle hatchlings stay in the nest through winter?

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A painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) with a dark shell and red and yellow markings rests on a rock near water, surrounded by green aquatic plants. — reptile Painted turtle (*Chrysemys picta*).

In some populations of the North American painted turtle, hatchlings that emerge from eggs laid during mid-summer remain in the nest through the winter and do not emerge until the following spring.12

This behavior is a survival strategy facilitated by the unique physiological capabilities of the species. Individual painted turtle hatchlings are able to tolerate short periods of extreme cold that cause much of the water within their bodies to freeze. By remaining in the nest, these hatchlings avoid the immediate environmental hazards of the winter season and emerge only when conditions are more favorable for survival.1