GENERAL INFORMATION

Box turtles are probably the best known of all the turtle species.  There are several different varieties of box turtles found in the United States.  The Eastern Box Turtle is the species native to the southern Appalachian mountains.

DESCRIPTION

The high-domed shell is the most prominent feature of the box turtle.  Closer examination reveals that the lower shell, called the plastron, is hinged, enabling the shell to be closed much like a box.  Both the upper shell, called the carapace, and the plastron, are typically dark brown to black in color with many varying streaks, spots, and lines of yellow and orange.  Older specimens often have very smooth and worn shells with little coloration.  The head, neck, and legs of the box turtle are also brightly colored with yellow and orange colored eyes while the eyes of the females are usually dark red or brown.  Male box turtles also have a slight depression in the middle of their lower shells while that of a female’s is flat.  Overall length of most adult box turtles is about five to six inches.

HABITS AND HABITATS

Box turtles can be found in a variety of habitats from fields to forests, although they seem to prefer moist situations when possible.  During hot, dry weather, box turtles will often seek out springs and seepages where they dig deeply into the cool mud.  They spend much of their time buried in the leaves and dirt of the forest floor, emerging to feed, especially after or during rainstorms.  Box turtles eat many kinds of plants and animal material including berries, mushrooms, earthworms, slugs, snails, and insects.  Like other reptiles, box turtles must hibernate during cold, winter weather.  They burrow deep under the soil and leaves, sometime in October, and usually emerge in April or early May.  When disturbed or frightened, most box turtles will pull in their head and legs and tightly close the shell, remaining hidden until the threat of danger is past.  The shell is extremely tough and almost impossible to pry open when closed.  Young box turtles do not develop the hinge for closing their shell until they are about four to five years old.  Female box turtles seek out sunny areas where they lay their eggs in the warm soil by excavating a cavity with their hind feet.  Although box turtles are  active during daylight hours, the females often use the protective cover of darkness to lay their eggs.  After laying from three to six eggs, the nest is covered with soil and the eggs are left to hatch on their own.  Box turtles usually lay their eggs in western North Carolina during June and July.  Hatching takes between two and three months.  Sometimes if the turtles hatch late in the season, they may overwinter in the nest and then emerge the following spring.  Due to their small size and lack of the bright coloration found on the adults, young box turtles are seldom seen.  Adult box turtles often live 30 to 40 years or more in the wild and some are believed to have reached 100 years or more.

HISTORY

Although they are still common in many areas, box turtles have declined over much of their range, probably due largely to habitat destruction by man.  Many box turtles are killed as they cross our highways.  Dogs sometimes catch box turtles and chew their shells, resulting in injury and eventual death to the turtle.  Many are also hit by lawnmowers as the turtles hide in tall grass and weeds.  Box turtles are popular as pets and over-collecting for the pet trade can also seriously reduce their numbers.  In spite of these threats, box turtles can often survive close to man if suitable pockets of habitat exist.  Because of it’s popularity and well-known status, the Eastern Box Turtle was chosen as North Carolina’s official state reptile in 1979.

MEET OUR BOX TURTLES

The Nature Center has two exhibits for box turtles— an indoor exhibit in the Nature Lab and an outdoor exhibit at the Turtle Pond.  The box turtles in the outdoor exhibit live a somewhat natural existence.  They have a large habitat planted with various shrubs, grasses, and other plants which surround an artificial but natural looking pond that also provides a home for several aquatic turtle species.  The turtles are fed during the warm months but are allowed to hibernate in the winter under leaves which are added to the enclosure in the fall.  In the Nature Lab, several box turtles live together in a large enclosure.  These turtles are not shy of people and are used frequently in our educational programs.  The Nature Center often receives box turtles which have been injured by cars, lawnmowers, and dogs.  Frequently these turtles have broken or cracked shells which we repair when possible using a variety of different techniques including duct tape splints and epoxy patches.
     

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©2002 WNC Nature Center