I just hope they don’t get into the pool and drown. I live in Albuquerque and I have had many box turtles in my back yard for years. I have it in a large bucket till I can figure out what to do about this situation. Your dog is following his instincts and could very easily kill the turtle or terrapin. Gravel vacuums are sold in most pet stores in both the aquatic and reptile sections. I have a permit/license to own and collect. In the process, I've learned not only that we gardeners can help ease the plight of the placid, plodding reptiles, which are gradually disappearing from landscapes across eastern North America, but also that box turtles have a lot to offer us in return—beyond the usual bromides about the virtues of patience and perseverance. I let her be. Just let it be and put it back where you found it when the rain stops. There are grass, hardwood mulch flower beds, and thick piles of leaves for them to visit. My dad found a box turtle in the middle of the road on route 33, NJ. Choose species that fruit at different times during the season. Its a Russian tortoise, and someone's lost pet. Try live earthworms cut into small pieces, about the size of the turtle’s head. He or she loves to eat the sweet potato vine. The turtle must have a way to get under the fence—he wasn’t there last summer—and there’s a wild area about three feet away… And in a few weeks the tomatoes and flowers will be getting big, and I mulch with straw… How much harm will I cause the turtle by clearing out the weeds? The Garden has reopened! Last summer, my neighbor found a turtle and put her inside my fenced-in garden area. We’re moving in December and I don’t want to leave her. After what seemed like ages, he continued across the patio to a white pine along the edge of the woods and disappeared in the pine needle duff. Tortoises like box turtles do not require bodies of water. Make sure the mixture is around 75-80F degrees. In the spring of 2011, an 8” orange male and a 6” black and yellow female began calling my fenced 6,000 square-foot backyard home. Then, one morning early last summer, a box turtle lumbered stoically through my butterfly meadow, trudged across my mangy back lawn, made his way to the middle of my patio, then stopped dead in his tracks. to water or moisture. he is no longer afraid of me and spends all his time underneath the towels. We are in northern Georgia, and it seems that the turtle should be burrowing somewhere to hibernate. I feed her a little bit of cat food and fruit or veggies but she’s not eating it. What plants can we plant in our garden that would not be toxic to our turtle? Turtles have a slow metabolism and can live for days without food. For sliders missing a few days, help rehydrate it by a soaking in Pedialyte, found in most pharmacies or reluctantly a solution of 50% Gatorade and 50% water. Fortunately, we gardeners can play a role in nurturing these plucky reptiles—and get rid of some slugs as part of the bargain. Let him rest, he can live without being in water. I used peacan shells, but now they have all but vanished. Sometimes we put him in the water and he sits there. I have a turtle in my back yard it only comes out from under the shed in my back yard early in the mornings about 5:30am till about 7:00am he just meanders around munching grass. Should I let them both inside the fencing? I lined the bottom with towels and turned the light on so he could dry. Two researchers from Southern Illinois University found the most important box turtle food groups to be (by volume) unidentified plant material (34.2%) and seeds (17.4%), as well as—gardeners take note—insects (19.6%) and snails and slugs (10.6%). Late afternoon, I went back and of course the eggs were buried and so the coleus bed looked as though nothing happened. Do a quick scan of your lawn area before starting the engine to look for baby (or adult) turtles and other small wildlife that cannot outrun your mower. One food most baby turtles find hard to resist is live worms. Sunbaths work fine, but can be hard to arrange during the winter, and the little guy needs his UV every day, every week. For terrestrial species such as box turtles, wood turtles, gopher tortoises and desert tortoises, make sure your garden has plenty of vegetation to give baby turtles adequate cover. However, these animals are normally gentle and fun to watch for the brief period they are in your landscape. What else should I be doing? Road kills and mower mortality reduce their numbers even more. Than you need to call your local animal shelter or wildlife rehab center for them to l\pick it up or look at it because some breeds of turtles are protected by Fish & Game so it may be illegal to keep it. It has been raining almost non-stop the last 24 - 48 hours. Turtle seems to listen for our footsteps and eagerly comes for a bite of fruit. Although much is known about seed dispersal by birds and mammals, little is known about saurochory, the dispersal of seeds by reptiles. The turtles are always in the same two places, hidden and snuggled among vines and leaf mulch. ), but we have a dog who would love to chomp on it. Habitat loss and fragmentation aren't the only threats. Box turtles seek out moist, well-drained soil in which to lay their eggs, so you seem to have the right conditions in your garden for a box turtle dig out a nest. Mow on a dry day, at midday, when turtles are less likely to be out and about. Please keep your pools fenced in to protect turtles and other animals from accidental drownings. It is filled with hostas, Lilies, iris, roses and azaleas. What NOT to do if you find a turtle in the road… I have a box turtle and she’s starting the hibernation process. You can also try live black worms, sold at pet stores to feed fish. Put him in a rubbermaid tub till I know what to do with him. Loved your article. Try and find what species he is, for more detail. How do you think about the answers? Also, turtles are poor swimmers and will drown in pools. I saw a box turtle digging a hole with her back legs. If you do own one he should be living outside in a large garden that mimics the environment that he would be living if he were in the wild. We also give him or her (?) I've done my penance in the library, reading scientific tomes on box turtle fecal contents and other engrossing subjects. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Can it be happy by itself and does it need a heat lamp? I really enjoyed them. He extended his long reptilian neck and proceeded to look dolefully from side to side. Not knowing what to do with it, naturally we brought it inside to warm it and began to look all over the internet We are not sure what species it is, but after its not eating for several days, and a trip to the pet store, we came home with the coconut husk medium and the turtle immediately burrowed into it. I’m not sure if there are more and I’m so afraid for them because it is mid-October and even in Memphis it will turn cold soon. My son found a cold still turtle hatchling on our driveway. Help please! Still have questions? I just found a 6- or 7-inch terrapin in my raised tomato bed. I found a turtle (kinda small) crawling in my back yard away from the bayou towards my house so I went outside and grabbed it. Is it okay to use both a ceramic heat emitter 60 watts and a heat matt at night for a leopard gecko? The flowers are all dead now, and there is no cover except for the mulch. Description. I found a baby turtle in my yard and have it an aquariam, the pet store said it may only be about 3 months old. There is a large undisturbed area (10’ x 100’) of deep leaves and mulch at the back of the yard which is full of worms and bugs. That was OK in the summer as I had plenty of water and vegetables and the turtle was local, but now winter is coming and I will be shutting off the water. I would suggest releasing the turtle in that area. I LIKE TURTLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other than that feed him greens such as salad and/or fruit like grapes. Amazing to watch. The shell of a baby turtle is no match for the sharp teeth of a domestic cat. Without UV and calcium it will get sick, slowly become deformed, eventually die. I fell in love with it right away. Thank you. It measures approximately 6 inches in diameter and seems to be quite at home in our yard. They are all very mobile and have access to all areas. Can they wander that far away by themselves? Box turtles are omnivorous and prefer animal protein as well as plant material in their diets, so consider growing plants that attract slugs and snails, favorite prey of “boxies.” For example, in a shady area of your turtle garden, you might plant a few hostas, which are also favored forage for box turtles. It's best, Bell says, to "let the turtle just do her thing. But if you really insist on keeping it for a day then just put a lamp over top of the cage and keep it on for the afternoon untill night time then turn it off. You can put a small dish of water in the cage for it also. I should have known from the start that I was in for a close encounter of the reptilian kind. They also lay their eggs in sunny spots. Have some fun with him. They love munching on our romaine lettuce, green beans, the tops of carrots, etc. What has been eating the insides out of my turtles? I feed them a small amount of tomatoes, strawberries, apples, bananas, or vegs when I see them. I found one a few months ago in a wooded area far away from water. If you plan to release it, it'll be fine for a few days without anything. of Land and Forests takes a VERY dim view of keeping indigenous wildlife. You should be aware that the Dept. A state biologist in your locality should be able to provide you with that information. I actually mowed over her once and we had to go to the vet. This little guy/girl was out in my front yard (which isn't far from a street) so I picked him up and took him to my back yard. Suddenly it dawned on me. Category: Reptile. Then they took her. Is the garden access a good idea? By the time you can see the problem it may be too late. Turtles have a slow metabolism and can live for days without food. I think it is cute that my cat just watches it walk around I guess it moves so … Build brush piles over soft, loose soil by layering branches and leaf litter, where they can spend the night or overwinter. That was OK in the summer as I had plenty of water and vegetables and the turtle was local, but now winter is coming and I will be shutting off the water. If you plan to release it, it'll be fine for a few days without anything.   There should be a fence around the pond--at least two to three times higher than the carapace length of your turtle, and sunk into the ground 6-10 inches to make sure there is no chance of escape). Please keep your comments relevant to this article. Turtles are very heavy to carry home. After finding a promising site, female snapping turtles scuffle the dirt with their hind legs and lay a clutch of 15 to 50 eggs. Thanks. Can it hurt him if I hold him too much? There are succulent/rock gardens, thick Boston ivy beds, a tomato/squash/cucumber garden in summer a plum tree and several fresh water bowls. My question exactly Joanne. ( One is male and one female). I have a small flower garden around my pool in the back yard. What's more, studies have demonstrated that passage through a box turtle's gut increases germination rates for some seeds, including mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), summer grape (Vitis aestivalis), pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), and jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Never remove one from its home in the wild. Please advise. Use clean water to let your turtle soak and to help remove dirt and dust that may have accumulated. When I put them together last year the female was very aggressive toward the male and they seemed to keep their distance, but I caught them mating two weeks ago. I do not want it to freeze, as the weather is turning cold. Learn more. After I posted my message about the turtle at my house in Live Oak, I went to my house in incorporate Bexar County (close to Windcrest) to do some yard work (it's on the market); guess what I saw. We discovered a beautiful, healthy-looking box turtle in our yard several weeks ago. How do we know if turtle is a boy or girl? Use room-temperature water, because they don’t do well in cold. I just want to say that this is a wonderful article. Plan your garden to welcome a local turtle in. Four box turtle species are native to North America. I hope she’s eating whatever she finds in the yard—there are fruit droppings she could eat. If you want to treat your turtle because you are happy to see him again, feed him snails. Hatchlings emerge from the nest at this time and attempt to find the body of water its population inhabits. I recently added a coconut woven basket turned upside down, which turtle loves to enter and rest. Try to find another shelter for it near water and vegetation—and far away from curious canines! I live in central Texas and so the plants need water especially right now with temperatures going up into the triple digits already, but I don’t want to harm the eggs either. You may want to contact your local Humane Society to inquire if anyone has reported a lost turtle that matches a description on the one you found. I brought her in a day ago and she’s still not eating. Back then, box turtles seemed cute, but they weren't as beguiling as the monarchs, swallowtails, and other butterflies I spent so much time and money luring to my garden. Black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), mulberries (Morus species), blackberries (Rubus species), American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), and frost grape (Vitis vulpina) are other favorite fleshy fruits. He will not know he’s home and will never be your best friend, if you want a best friend, get a dog. A baby box turtle, about the size of a half dollar, has made its home on a small cement slab near our door. Wasnt going anywhere, it was just crammed up in the shade between a flower pot and the wall of my house. Your support helps Brooklyn Botanic Garden inspire curiosity and a love of nature in people of all ages. Leave large, continuous areas of natural leaf litter mulch beneath the trees on your property, where the animals can remain camouflaged and forage for prey. Herpetologists seem to have a thing about carving their initials in box turtle shells. Got a turtle in your yard? I found a turtle (kinda small) crawling in my back yard away from the bayou towards my house so I went outside and grabbed it. Tortoises cross roadways for all the same reasons as their turtle cousins. It’s best to use a large, shallow cat litter pan or a shallow plant saucer, but a dish or pan will also work. How are these turtles entering my fenced yard? Tortoises live in burrows underground and provide habitat for many species. Reptilemagazine.com offers a list of plants that may be toxic for reptiles, including box turtles, and according to that list and other sources, daffodils and tulips are not recommended, due to their poisonous bulbs and other plant parts. We have it in a terrarium with potting soil, miniature plants, rock dish for water, and an oyster shell to hold it’s food. We have lived in this house for two years, and have seen it only twice in the past two weeks. You may also want to check with the biologist about ways to protect the nest from being raided or damaged, since box turtle eggs are subject to predation by various animals. Pet aquatic turtles kept in outdoor ponds do need to have secure fencing. These turtles love wading in water, so make sure to have a little pool of water for your turtle to play in. They are eating a well balanced diet, and I believe that they have mated. I love turtles but have never taken the time to learn about them. Ours prefer night crawlers to red worms. Their version of turtle heaven includes not only shady woods with a thick layer of leaf litter and downed branches to hang out in but also ample sources of water and sunny areas for basking. Last summer, my neighbor found a turtle and put her inside my fenced-in garden area. Keep a wheelbarrow handy for when you find the turtle. See if your neighbors … Nadine Highfield . Today I found a little (3-inch) box turtle in my vegetable garden, half hidden under the hairy vetch that has grown up the fence. Should I bring them in for the winter? Do I need to protect the nest from big blackbirds,  raccoons, or others? I have put it in an empty 20 gallon glass fish tank of mine which has never before been used. dear, this is not a dream is in true… febr. Make a temporary home for the animal. Do the bugs have to be alive? We are planting a garden and we want to put our box turtle in his own enclosure. He was looking for my muck garden! Is it common for a baby box turtle the size of a quarter to be by itself? Eastern box turtles are found throughout much of eastern North America. Should I just leave her be? In sunny areas, encourage dense clusters of brambles, and let the ripened berries fall. Box turtles use such areas for traveling, mating, and basking. 1st you need to supply water for it to go in because drying out an animal that lives in water doesn't make sense. How can I take care of him for just 24 hours or so? Better yet, mow in winter when they're tucked in safely underground. I've FOUND a turtle! Thank you. If you found a snapping turtle you must live near a lake or pooled stream. If you think if was someone’s pet released into “the wild” of your garden, call your local animal rescue service for advice. Should we contact a local wildlife agency? Hi I live in northern California where box turtles are nonnative. They spend the night concealed in a "form," a shallow depression in soil or leaf litter. Provide a large, and preferably isolated, clearing. If you see a turtle wandering around your property, the best thing to do is leave it alone. To handle a large Snapping Turtle safely, avoid the front half of the turtle’s body. Put him in a rubbermaid tub till I know what to do with him. Over the next decade I'd occasionally see one of the peaceful little beasts chomping on a plump mushroom while plodding deliberately across my moss lawn. No way I can … Turtles are special. It will not require food for just one day. You can sign in to vote the answer. I live near a bayou which always floods in weather like this. I plan on keeping him over night until the next day when hopefully the rain will stop, and I will release him into the bayou. It has been raining almost non-stop the last 24 - 48 hours. I inspect them weekly and they seem healthy. I saw her in the backyard pushing a little baby turtle along the yard to her safe place under the big holly bush. To me, though, this turtle does not seem like it looks like a native IL species. Additionally, snapping turtles have a bite like a steel trap and are considered dangerous with small children and pets around. Your article gave me ideas about food to put for them, although there are plenty of rooms and the like in the flower bed. Ar$e-pipe losers? Should I give it away? They are real good escape artists. Call a pet store and ask them what turtles eat. A box turtle laid her eggs beside our deer salt lick. I have a baby box turtle who has an indoor enclosure in the winter during hibernation and an outdoor enclosure for the warm months, I want to plant more plants in her outside enclosure and I was wondering what plants are good to plant and what plants are toxic. They're appealing animals with their brightly patterned, lumpy shells, stumpy legs, short little tails, and animated facial features. I’ve been trying to find out the difference between a male and female because I would like to get the opposite. This little turtle has added tremendous joy to our backyard. I’m concerned about the potential salmonella that turtles can have. At least one group of researchers found entire turtle congregations returning regularly to feast at favored fruiting plants. No box turtle should be taken from the wild. One from my lawnmower and the other from the middle of the road. It has established its living quarters under our wooden patio and has two exit areas. Turtles are potential flying objects. Their average weights range from 10 to 35 lbs (4.5 – 16 kg), with a record of 75 lbs (34 kg). you need water, you need tutle pebbles he eats tht and shelter just keep a hide for him and keep it damp and moist. I even collected their boxlike shells from my woods, each one a unique pattern of yellow to orange splotches, blotches, streaks, and dabs on a dark background. Schilling wants to be taken off HOF ballot, Loughlin's husband denied early release from prison, Aaron Rodgers quashes rumors about leaving Packers. I have had them in captivity for 3 weeks trying to figure out what to do with them, I am torn as I read about their homing instincts and their habitat has been destroyed and is an area of dense population and ever increasing habitat loss. This little guy/girl was out in my front yard (which isn't far from a street) so I picked him up and took him to my back yard. Advance tickets are required. Clean and maintain the habitat carefully. What I do is get a water hose and wet down where there is mud thats near a bush and check it about 5-10-15min later and it should be there. Is it safe to move it into the leaf/pine needle mulch next to the cement? It is a fenced enclosure so they are somewhat isolated. If it’s not native to your immediate area or was raised as a pet, it might be safer for both it and the local box turtle population to keep it in captivity. About a month or two ago my mothers boyfriend found a baby box turtle. She cut the remainder off and cauterized it, and kept her indoors throughout the winter. Please provide suggestions. I have a dog, so being loose has its disadvantages. I hope they will survive there. I was thinking about planting some daffodils and tulips since they are easy care plants but I don’t know if they are safe. The ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata, is primarily a turtle of the prairies and the Southwest; the spotted box turtle, Terrapene nelsoni, lives in the Sonoran Desert; and the Coahuilan box turtle, Terrapene coahuila, is native to a single valley in Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert. He seems to like it when I do. My question is this: I want to clear out the vetch and other weeds so I can plant my tomatoes, but don’t want to deprive the turtle of his habitat. My grandma has been cutting up strawberries, cantaloupe, and leafy greens. Where can I buy live foods that have been farm raised? I was wondering what kind of mulch to use that would not harm the turtle? My daughter found a box turtle in the road whose right leg was almost completely severed off about half way down. I found a 4-5 inch three toe box turtle in my rose bed a month ago. I thought a deer had been eating the tomatoes! Last summer, my neighbor found a turtle and put her inside my fenced-in garden area. Meeting up with one almost always leaves a good impression. Turtles are very heavy to carry home. If you happen to see a turtle wandering around, TWRA says the best thing you can do is leave it alone. What NOT to do if you find a turtle in the road… He made a cave through leaves and stems that I keep moist. Although eggs and hatchlings often get picked off by raccoons and foxes, any box turtle that survives the juvenile stages has a good shot at living as long as a human—assuming it doesn't get creamed by a car while crossing a road or mangled by a mower. Be VERY, VERY nice to him. I have a cherry tree in the area where i was going to put her, but don’t know if the fruit or its leaves will harm her? While wearing gloves, place one hand on the base of the turtle’s tail – to help stabilize and secure the turtle – and slide the other hand halfway under the turtle’s shell. Those little "Turtle Ponds" you can still find in pet stores are insufficient, and sometimes called "Death Bowls" by experienced turtle keepers. Around the terrarium... Oct 24, 2009: found turtle by Anonymous. Reptilian neck and proceeded to look dolefully from side to side wildlife mowing... Unintentionally harm the eggs if i hold him too much ) right away not be displayed, but turtle... 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