15 free eastern box hatchlings

mike taylor said:

Go to the box turtle section and read up . There's alot of good information .

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I live in Michigan and have raised box turtles(other than easterns, of course) and tortoises for over fifty years. I would be happy to head start them and then release them after a full growing season in the area where they were discovered. If you can't get a zoo or nature center to take them and are interested, call or text me at 517-861-9000. I am just east of Lansing. Good luck

MICHIGAN turtle rescue

Here's my suggestion:

Go to where you found the nests. Dig with a shovel all around the spot about 2', and down about 2' to loosen up the soil. Place the babies on the ground. Then pile up a bunch of loose straw/hay and garden trash/leaf litter over the babies. Hopefully, because you have loosened the soil, the babies can dig down a bit, and the hay and leaves you have piled up over the spot will help insulate them from the cold weather. Then walk away with your fingers crossed. We all hope that these babies will live and I applaud you for wanting to try to save them.

Hello I'm in Matthews North Carolina! I have a box turtle habitat in my back yard but if you are not wanting them to be put outside because they are to little to hibernate this winter, I have a hundred gallon fish tank I will keep them in until big enough to be moved to outside habitat. Email me for pictures of my habitat and more information [email protected]

Late to the party, sorry. I think it would be best if this crew were to be released in the area where they came from, if not now then in the spring after being head started indoors. I don't know that a nature center has any actual experience with hatchlings. My local nature center inspires me with no confidence at all in regards to turtles of any age or species. Maybe yours is different, but I would not assume anything.

With that in mind, I'd be inclined to either take Jim up on his offer to headstart them and release in spring, or let them go as Yvonne suggested on a sunny warm day.

If even only one survives to enter the wild breeding population, it's still a victory. If they are all removed from the local breeding population it's the loss of subsequent generations, too. Even if the individual survives in captivity - which is not a sure thing- it's a blow to the wild population.

I "feel" that it is too late in the season to plop these little ones back out where they were at....valuable time has been lost that would have been used in establishing their own areas for survival and nesting in for the winter.....also, turtles and tortoise are an animal that has very low numbers of survival rates....so yes, your concern for them dying is accurate, however, it is part of nature---survival of the fittest factors in as well ..so, if you are going to overwinter them, then do so....the situation is the situation at hand.....you can do what you can at this point for them....

wellington said:

Okay, again, what's done is done. She has had them for two weeks now, she can not release them this late in the game.
If you have adoption suggestions, then post them, otherwise I think the point has been said enough.

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WELL said, Wellington! According to the law, at this point in time they would be counted as "captive- bred" and definitely NOT releasable back into the wild, again!

I live in NC and take in injured box turtles. I have a lot of land and have a really large area in which I keep these Turtles in. Plenty of sun, shade, water, grass,dirt etc. It would definitely been better if you would have left them alone but kinda late for that now. If you cannot find a home for them and as a last resort be willing to ship them I will take them.

Thanks for everyone's responses. All are well and doing great. At this point I think I will just release them in the spring. Highs have only been low 50's and 30's at night. Michigan won't allow shipping of eastern or I'd LOVE to send them to loving homes. We have 60 acres and last year eastern seemed to be doing good. This year only seen the two. I think last winter killed A LOT!!!!! WE have snappers and painted turtles like crazy. They use our sandy trails to lay their eggs. At times in the late spring / summer I'm taking 5-6 babies a day to the lake or swampy areas across the street. How can those two breeds thrive in large numbers but not eastern other than laying more eggs than eastern?

I agree that it is too late in the season to release them. I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area so we have the same weather as you. Definetely too cold now. Good luck with the little ones!

I thought the reason this forum was created was to help people with this kind of problem. Once you say your suggestion, that's it. She gets it what she did was a mistake. But what human being with compassion wouldn't want to help. BTW nice little indoor enclosure you made from such short notice. Wish I could help but I'm in Texas.

Thanks Princess _ lexie. All 15 babies are doing great!!!!! Eat a lot for such small things.

And to KRB1093 Oct 4 posting regarding baby box turtles, have you tried the pets communities under Craigslist in different places, maybe some here in Florida. Turtle lovers, esp S. Florida, have big yards and would probably be interested. There are services that ship animals, not sure what the name is. Google it. Check Craigslist/communities/pets in Jacksonville, Gainsville, Orlando, Miami, Tampa etc. Good luck.

Id take a few

I don't think what you did was bad at all. The "wild" isn't like it used to be. Most Box Turtles who hatch late in the season and aren't dug down deep enough don't survive...here in NY anyway. This time of year there is always some animal looking for a meal. I would have done the same thing. You can release them in the Spring, and you would be doing the box turtle population a service. I don't believe in taking any from the wild, but in your case I think you did the right thing.

And to be totally honest, I don't believe in taking in wildlife But Imo these hatchlIngs would probably not have survived and so therefore , I'm positive I would have done the same as you did. Good luck with your babies.

So how are your little guys doing

I've been curious myself. Been in the shadows reading this thread... hoping the best

Do you still have them??

I'm just glad they weren't taken to a zoo. They need to go back into the wild in spring.
***Keep them away from any/all other species of turtle/tortoise***
Sounds like your doing a good job caring for them. That makes me happy. I hope things work out for the best for the little boxies.