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The eastern box turtle is considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region; however, populations can be found in areas not bisected by heavily traveled roads. In the Midwest , it is a species of concern in Ohio , and a species of special concern [ disambiguation needed ] in Michigan and Indiana .
- Eastern Box Turtles Live at Least 40 Years
- Eastern Box Turtles Rarely Fight and Often Share Territories
- The Eastern Box Turtle Is One of 6 Subspecies of Common Box Turtles
- Eastern Box Turtles Have An Excellent “Homing Instinct”
- Young Male Eastern Box Turtles Travel One Way
- Male Eastern Box-Turtles Have Red Eyes
- These Little Guys Will Eat Almost Anything
- They Are Not Graceful Swimmers
- They Are Early Risers
- They Are Listed as Vulnerable in Many Areas
Due to their slow metabolisms, they reach maturity at around 4 years old. They do not reach their full size until they are around 20. In the wild, these turtles can live from 40 to 50 years, there have even been some reports of eastern box Turtles living to be around 100 years old.
Eastern box turtles can be found with 3 or 4 individual turtles sharing the same range and living peacefully. The occasional spat between males usually only consists of bites on each other’s shells, which causes very little damage.
Other sub-species are Gulf-coast Box turtles, Yucatan Box-turtle, Florida box-turtle, Mexican box-turtle, and the three-toed box turtle. There are 4 other distinct species of box turtles.
They travel an average of 55 yards a day, and can easily find their way home from a strange area, provided they aren’t too far from home. Long-term studies have shown individual turtles in the same home range up to 50 years later.
These young travelers have no established territory and spend their days roaming. This may have to do with their homing instinct. If you move a turtle you see crossing the road, be sure to place it facing the way it was headed, or due to its homing instinct, he’ll find himself in danger again.
As is common in wild animals, male box turtles are usually more brightly colored than females. This includes their eyes,males usually have red eyes, while females have brownish eyes. This fact about eastern box turtles might help you identify if a turtle is a male or female if you see one while on a nature walk.
Eastern box turtles are opportunistic omnivores, which means they will eat anything that is available to them. This includes fungi, insects, slugs, berries, and grasses. They have also been known to scavenge and will eat live birds.
Eastern box turtles are terrestrial, which means they live on land. Although they enjoy shallow puddles and moist areas, especially on a very hot day, they do not manage well if submerged. They are clumsyswimmers and may even drown if the water is too deep.
Eastern box turtles are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. In the heat of summer, they get an early start so they can spend the hottest part of the day relaxing in the mud.
Some upsetting facts about eastern box turtles are that in many areas they are listed as vulnerable, and the state of Maine officially lists them as endangered. This is due to habitat loss, illegal removal from the wild for sale as pets, and being hit by cars.
Eastern box turtles are considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region. Eastern box turtles prefer deciduous or mixed forested regions, with a moderately moist forest floor that has good drainage.
Aug 25, 2021 · Eastern Box Turtles are a terrestrial species, meaning they spend most of their time in forested land and are only occasionally found crossing shallow streams. Some well-intentioned people place terrestrial turtles in bodies of water, thinking they are helping, but this can be dangerous for the turtle!
May 1, 2024 · Unlike some other turtle species, the Eastern Box Turtle is non-poisonous. While they possess their unique defenses, such as retreating into their shell or biting if threatened, they do not produce venom or toxins.
Feb 21, 2024 · Discover fascinating facts about the Eastern Box Turtle: their colorful shells, hinged plastrons, long lifespan, diverse habitats, solitary behavior, territoriality, omnivorous diet, hibernation habits, navigation skills, endangered status, and cultural significance.
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The eastern box turtle, a subspecies of the common box turtle, has a dark brown, hinged shell with yellow-orange markings. When threatened, it can pull its head, tail and limbs inside and shut its shell for protection. Fact Sheet. Conservation.
