K. hirtipes undergoes a dietary shift from insects to vegetation as body size increases which facilitates rapid growth.

Although male K. hirtipes are larger in size than females, both sexes share a dietary overlap consuming similar foods.

[3] Based on tracks around kill sites, bite marks and shell damage it has been determined that the main predators of the K. hirtipes are racoons and feral pigs.

These turtles seem to be relatively "immune" to predation but are at the highest risk when coming out of the water to nest.

[5] The subspecific name, murrayi, is in honor of American zoologist Leo Tildon Murray (1902–1958).