Beautiful Eastern Box Turtle

[Jim Smith]

My wife and I found this beautiful little male Eastern Box Turtle upside down in the middle of a busy road this morning, so we rescued him. Our kids call us the turtle patrol because we always stop to help these beautiful creatures when we see them on the roads. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one quite so pretty as this little guy. The yellows on his shell and his face were almost a bright canary yellow. Anyway, I thought I’d snap a few photos and share them with other turtle lovers here.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/Jimws100/BoxTurtle1_zpsc699543c.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Jimws100/media/BoxTurtle1_zpsc699543c.jpg.html)

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/Jimws100/BoxTurtle3_zpsbb5ec2bd.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Jimws100/media/BoxTurtle3_zpsbb5ec2bd.jpg.html)

[sharthun]

Cool turtle and rescue!

[that1guy]

Nice rescue, I love EBTs and turtles in general, actually I love all reptiles. Sadly there are not enough people like you out there, some even go out of their way to run over them. Even more sad these beautiful animals are in serious decline in the wild due to habitat loss, over collecting for pets, and of course roadkill. Thanks, keep up the good work sir.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice job.
Love those eyes.

[Zoo Nanny]

Nice save! Love the box turtles. In our area there are so many people that love the turtles that we have Turtle Crossing signs at all the common crossing areas.

[Jim Smith]

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. As odd as it seems, my wife and I were going out to lunch again today and there on the same road at almost the exact same spot was another box turtle sitting there upside down in the middle of the lane. I don't think I've ever found one just sitting there upside down before yesterday, and now we've found two in two consecutive days. I'm not sure what the odds are, but it has to be fairly remote to find two in two days in the same spot both upside down.

This one was a bit larger female and not quite as pretty, but still a lovely animal. We rescued her as well and she is now down in the lower 50 acres beside our house. No roads to get run over on and plenty of food and cover and besides her boy friend is already there waiting for her;)

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i164/Jimws100/FemaleBoxTurtle_zps219c88d4.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Jimws100/media/FemaleBoxTurtle_zps219c88d4.jpg.html)

[LISA127]

They are beautiful! however, it is best not to relocate box turtles as they will continually try to get back to their home range. just help them across the road next time.

[EL Ziggy]

Nice saves Jim! Your kindness is endless :)