They will deposit a clutch of three to 13 eggs. After laying the eggs, the hole is filled with a mixture of vegetation and dirt to provide an air space, and covered with wet soil as a plug to keep the eggs in a humid environment. This process can take from two to four hours. Incubation takes 90-130 days, depending on summer temperatures. They may emerge from the nest in the fall or spend winter in the nest and come out in the spring.
Hatchlings are independent and rely on their natural instinct for finding food.
While spending much time hiding from many predators, most baby pond turtles are not able to survive the first year. Birds, fish and the introduced American bullfrog are among many predators of the small turtles. Western pond turtles are wary and shy. In 1990, many pond turtles in Klickitat County died from a disease similar to upper respiratory disease. These screen cages protect the eggs from predators and keep the hatchlings from wandering away when they emerge.