nc_nutcase;4209220; said:
There is no such thing as a "land" turtle. Thats a tortoise and box turtles need water or they will dry up.
Any Ideas
- Thread starter Silvertears
- Start date
There is no such thing as a "land" turtle. Thats a tortoise and box turtles need water or they will dry up.
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/Contribute/box turtle/easternrange.gif
That shows that they aren't in my area. There are little kids up the road by where I found it. Could be their pet and they thought it be a good idea to let it play in the yard and then forgot about it.
That shows that they aren't in my area. There are little kids up the road by where I found it. Could be their pet and they thought it be a good idea to let it play in the yard and then forgot about it.
The OP here almost certainly has an Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), which requires a moist/humid environment and the opportunity to submerge itself...
But there are certainly species of Turtles such as the Desert Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola) that hails from arid prairies in Mexico, Texas & Arizona. These are certainly "turtles" (family - Emydidae) and not Tortoises (family - Testudinidae)...
But there are certainly species of Turtles such as the Desert Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola) that hails from arid prairies in Mexico, Texas & Arizona. These are certainly "turtles" (family - Emydidae) and not Tortoises (family - Testudinidae)...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrapene_carolina_carolina
The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name. They are populated as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The eastern box turtle is considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region; however, populations can be found in areas not bisected by heavily traveled roads. In the Midwest, they are a species of Special Interest in Ohio, and of Special Concern in Michigan and Indiana. Eastern box turtles prefer deciduous or mixed forested regions, with a moderately moist forest floor that has good drainage. They can be also found in open grasslands, pastures, or under fallen logs or in moist ground, usually moist leaves or wet dirt. They have also been known to take "baths" in shallow streams and ponds or puddles.
The map you linked us to shows their continuous habitat extends into southern NY state and also shows a couple of isolated areas where they can be found. It is quite possible that there are a few other populations that this study is unaware of.
The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name. They are populated as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The eastern box turtle is considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region; however, populations can be found in areas not bisected by heavily traveled roads. In the Midwest, they are a species of Special Interest in Ohio, and of Special Concern in Michigan and Indiana. Eastern box turtles prefer deciduous or mixed forested regions, with a moderately moist forest floor that has good drainage. They can be also found in open grasslands, pastures, or under fallen logs or in moist ground, usually moist leaves or wet dirt. They have also been known to take "baths" in shallow streams and ponds or puddles.
The map you linked us to shows their continuous habitat extends into southern NY state and also shows a couple of isolated areas where they can be found. It is quite possible that there are a few other populations that this study is unaware of.
Wikipedia has been proven wrong on countless number of things. I no longer trust the info. Also I had read the desert box turtle avoids dry air areas.
Do you trust the Smithsonian Institute?
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm
Terrapene carolina carolina (common box turtle), covering the largest area, lives from Michigan and Maine in the north
http://www.chelonia.org/articles/TerrapenecareSZ.htm
It ranges from Massachusetts west to Illinois, and south to Georgia.
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/EasternBoxTurtle.php
found from Florida to Massachusetts
I think it's rather well established that they are native to your general region...
I have no clue if the specimen you found is truly native to yoru area, is a captive released animal or is part of an 'invasive population' formed from captive released individuals...
Have you reviewed enough detail abotu Eastern Box Turtles to confirm (or deny) if you believe yours is indeed an Eastern Box?
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm
Terrapene carolina carolina (common box turtle), covering the largest area, lives from Michigan and Maine in the north
http://www.chelonia.org/articles/TerrapenecareSZ.htm
It ranges from Massachusetts west to Illinois, and south to Georgia.
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/turtles/EasternBoxTurtle.php
found from Florida to Massachusetts
I think it's rather well established that they are native to your general region...
I have no clue if the specimen you found is truly native to yoru area, is a captive released animal or is part of an 'invasive population' formed from captive released individuals...
Have you reviewed enough detail abotu Eastern Box Turtles to confirm (or deny) if you believe yours is indeed an Eastern Box?
yep, it is an eastern box for sure.very often they can go without water by burying themselves in moist soil or by jumping from small puddles and ravines. They do not need to have a significant source of water at all.
Yep, that's an Eastern Box Turtle. They're quite rare in New York state. Believe it or not but the Native American population is responsible for extirpating that species from most of NY state hundreds of years ago. It is most likely illegal to keep it so I would release it back where you found it.
Lol, sorry but you are sort of wrong. They need water just like any other species: to stay hydrated. Tortoises can "dry up" just as easily as Box Turtles if they don't have water.
If there's one thing I know about it's Box Turtles. I've been keeping and breeding Terrapene carolina carolina for over 20 years.
FishingOut;4209229; said:
Lol, sorry but you are sort of wrong. They need water just like any other species: to stay hydrated. Tortoises can "dry up" just as easily as Box Turtles if they don't have water.
If there's one thing I know about it's Box Turtles. I've been keeping and breeding Terrapene carolina carolina for over 20 years.
Okay so I am going to release it in my back yard. Not far from where it was found and if it needs water there is some puddles and it's not far from woods for it to go back in to. Another question. I have a red eared slider. I was wondering if a 6' round 2' deep kiddie pool would be enough for it when full grown. I will build a land area for it to get out of the water and bask.
Silvertears;4209572; said:
sounds good and yes, that is a good bit more water than most RES get when they are full grown.
