![]() (Side note: if you have tick issues, then it is best to clean up leaf litter in areas close to your walkways by mid-May as ticks breed in leaf litter). Box turtles spend a lot of time in leaf litter and cleaning it up at the end of fall can remove some of their food and shelter resources. ![]() By providing native fruit plants, like those mentioned above, you also invite habitat for native insects that are also favored by box turtles. The good news is that there are simple steps to help box turtles out in your own backyard or in your neighborhood! These declines are due to habitat loss, diseases (like Ranavirus), and illegal collection. Unfortunately, box turtles have been declining in Maryland and in other states over the last decade. In addition, mushrooms, insects, and worms provide extra nutrition for the box turtle.Įastern box turtle enjoying mushrooms by John S. Significantly, box turtles are very important for mayapples and serve as the main seed dispersers for this plant. In particular, fruit-producing plants like raspberries, blackberries, mayapples, elderberry, black cherry, persimmon, pokeweed, and the like are often appetizing to roaming turtles. Because of this issue, it is best not to move box turtles from where you have found them.īox turtles are omnivores, meaning that they like to eat both plants and animals. However, if they are moved outside of where they live, it can cause confusion. They can easily navigate through their home territories. Interestingly enough, box turtles have a homing instinct that functions like an internal GPS. However, you can take pictures of your turtle visitors and can distinguish individuals by their intricate shell patterns. Because the turtle’s shell can easily be damaged, it is not recommended to mark turtles at home. Researchers sometimes mark the edges of a turtle’s shell to identify individuals or attach tiny tracking devices. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling a turtle.Some of the oldest known box turtles have lived over 100 years! Most wild box turtles, however, typically live around 50 years.Free-roaming dogs and cats injure and kill millions of wild animals each year. Keep domestic animals indoors or on leashes.Watch out for turtles and other wildlife when mowing lawns and doing other yard-work.You can call and speak to a staff member at City Wildlife for advice on where to adopt and how to care for a pet turtle. If you truly desire a pet reptile and can make all of the commitments necessary to keeping a healthy, happy turtle, please look into adopting. Turtles have small home territories and should be left where they are found. Do NOT relocate a turtle to a “better place”.Many turtles crossing roads are egg-laden females looking for appropriate nesting sites. Assist turtles crossing a road by carrying them across in the direction they’re headed.If you find a turtle in the road, make sure you move it to the side of the road in the direction it was headed otherwise, it will just keep trying to cross the road again. If they are removed from their home, they will spend the rest of their lives trying to get back to it. Turtles live their entire lives in a one mile radius. Most turtles do not need to be brought into rehab unless they have obvious injuries. If the turtle has an injury, make sure you write down exactly where you found it. Does the turtle need your help? Eastern Box Turtle
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