Box Turtle Rescue

[AjaMichelle]

Hi,

With respect to returning the box turtle to the wild, be sure to return it to the same area where you found it. Taking it miles away will only result in a treacherous return trip, as box turtles have strong homing instincts and do not leave the home range where they are born willingly.

Brently, if you found this turtle in your yard, your yard is likely part of it's home range, and you'll likely be seeing it again in the Spring.

If you would like to keep a box turtle, look into local turtle rescue groups. We have two native box turtle species here in NM and many turtles are turned in to a local rescue group by individuals unsuccessful with trying to keep them indoors. The group here regularly adopts out turtles to folks interested in setting up a proper habitat for needful turtles outside.

They do best outside as they can assume appropriate seasonal behavior--- hibernation, etc. It's difficult to set up the various microhabitats they require in captivity.

Here's a link to the group's site: Turtle and Tortoise Care | Adopt a Turtle | Turtle Resources | Chelonians | Turtle Club Membership

They has some great care information. Also, with respect to feeding, don't use dog or cat food (often recommended for turtles). It can be deadly.

You're lucky to live in an area where turtles live naturally.

[Herpophiliac972]

I was on a trip, and my Aunt (who lives with me) almost ran over a box turtle. I had been taking care of a friend's RES and Painted, and so she brought it back and put it in. I came back to find that turtle sitting on the land, refusing to go in the water. I re-released him the next day, and kept him in a land aquarium overnight. He was awesome. How is the herping down there? I am going down to North Carolina for vacation this summer, and I am going to spend at least one whole day of it herping. Any tips for your region? And aquatic species need a heat lamp too, as it provides calcium that helps reptiles digest food and keeps their scales hard (with exceptions i.e. scaleless corns, softshells, but they need the calcium from the lamps). Good luck!

[EmbraceCalamity]

Originally Posted by Herpophiliac972

And aquatic species need a heat lamp too, as it provides calcium that helps reptiles digest food and keeps their scales hard (with exceptions i.e. scaleless corns, softshells, but they need the calcium from the lamps). Good luck!

I think you're thinking UVB, not heat lamp. Of course, heat is important, but it doesn't do much for calcium (except keep their digestive systems working). UVB doesn't provide calcium either though; it produces vitamin D3, which allows them to absorb calcium.

~Maggot