Therefore, this turtle is probably found in suitable habitat along the Mississippi River in northern Iowa. Habitat Stinkpots are found in sluggish backwaters, marshes, ponds, and ditches with soft bottoms and surrounding sandy soils close to the Mississippi River in Iowa. Since then, a few new populations have been added. They become active in April, and hibernate beginning of October. These turtles bask only very rarely and are seldom seen.
Stinkpots are mainly nocturnal, especially in the warmest summer months.
They are also active in the morning and at dusk. During the day, they bury themselves in the mud, or sleep among aquatic vegetation. They stay close to the water, and have very restricted overland movements, if any. Stinkpots are so named due to musk glands that are present near the bridge connecting the carapace to the plastron. The musk can be very strong smelling in recently captured specimens.