It spends most of its time in bodies of deep, quickly moving freshwater with muddy bottoms and large amounts of vegetation.

[10] The Plymouth red-bellied turtle often suns itself upon rocks in order to maintain its body temperature; however, if it is frightened while doing so, it will go back into the water.

[8] The Plymouth red-bellied turtle is endangered due to overhunting by its natural predator, the striped skunk, and pollution from herbicides dumped into streams and ponds.

Loss of habitat, as a result of filling in ponds to create houses is also a major issue.

[7] In 1983, Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge was established to help conserve the Plymouth red-bellied turtle.