Help Save the Box Turtles!

Happy Spring! Just as the plants and pollinators are coming back to life, so are the box turtles! Our dedicated Spring interns have been keeping a close eye on our tagged box turtles in the park and almost all of them have come out of brumation.

As box turtles are leaving their comfy underground burrows and venturing back into the world you may come across one yourself. Here are some dos and don’ts of interacting with your local box turtle:

What if you come across a box turtle on a hike? DO admire it from a distance. DON’T disturb, pick up, or relocate a box turtle! Turtles have small home ranges and should be left where they are found. Box turtles can also live 60+ years in captivity so we do not recommend taking them in as pets.

What if you find a turtle in the road? DO move it to the other side in the direction it was going. DON’T move them in the opposite direction. Box turtles are very stubborn, so if you move them away from where they were trying to go, they will turn right back around.

What if you find an injured box turtle? DO call a local rehab center such as Turtle Rescue Team. DON’T take it home or try to care for it yourself. Injured box turtles stand a better chance of being able to return to the wild where they belong if they are rehabbed by a professional.

And finally, if you come across a box turtle in the coming months, DO take a shellfie! Visit our website to learn how to send us your shellfies to help with our research.