Found a box turtle and trying to decide if it's wild or a pet

Chip's mom

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Hi all! We own an Eastern Hermann's Tortoise, and I was just driving and saw an Eastern Box Turtle (appears to be female and is around 6"). We live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, so thinking it is not native and is/was someone's pet. What do others think? Trying to decide whether to release, find a home for her, etc. We are posting on local forums to see if someone lost a pet. Any other ideas? She appears to have a fungus or other small at the top of her beak. If we don't find a home for her right away will take her to a vet. If anyone is looking for an Eastern Box Turtle as a new pet please let me know as we'd love her to go to a good home.

Thanks all!
 

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Toddrickfl1

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Hi all! We own an Eastern Hermann's Tortoise, and I was just driving and saw an Eastern Box Turtle (appears to be female and is around 6"). We live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, so thinking it is not native and is/was someone's pet. What do others think? Trying to decide whether to release, find a home for her, etc. We are posting on local forums to see if someone lost a pet. Any other ideas? She appears to have a fungus or other small at the top of her beak. If we don't find a home for her right away will take her to a vet. If anyone is looking for an Eastern Box Turtle as a new pet please let me know as we'd love her to go to a good home.

Thanks all!
Box turtles are native to PA. Most likely a wild animal.
 

Maro2Bear

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As I'm researching it could be wild here (in PA) so I'm leaning towards releasing if someone doesn't claim as a pet. What do others think?

They are definitely native to PA. I lived up in Schuylkill County and caught wild ones all the time. We have a ton down here in MD too.
 

jeff kushner

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Full disclosure; I can't give you any definitive reason, but my gut tells me that she's wild.....the stance, the look...all of an active predator. Those are traits developed on top of instinct mapping...

Again, just my guess

but, I also get paid to guess.....lol

FWIW, a friend who lives near Chestertown MD commutes to West Chester PA, West of Philly and he found a box turtle last summer on one of the side roads. There were a lot less cars out this time last year.

Good luck whatever you choose to do. I/We take comfort that you know how to care for him and you came to the right place to learn what you don't know...smart!

jeff
 

Chip's mom

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Chip's mom

Active Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Messages
116
Location (City and/or State)
Philadelphia
Full disclosure; I can't give you any definitive reason, but my gut tells me that she's wild.....the stance, the look...all of an active predator. Those are traits developed on top of instinct mapping...

Again, just my guess

but, I also get paid to guess.....lol

FWIW, a friend who lives near Chestertown MD commutes to West Chester PA, West of Philly and he found a box turtle last summer on one of the side roads. There were a lot less cars out this time last year.

Good luck whatever you choose to do. I/We take comfort that you know how to care for him and you came to the right place to learn what you don't know...smart!

jeff
Thanks so much for the expert opinion. I agree and she seemed like a wild animal- we released and she took off!
 

Cathie G

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Hi all! We own an Eastern Hermann's Tortoise, and I was just driving and saw an Eastern Box Turtle (appears to be female and is around 6"). We live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, so thinking it is not native and is/was someone's pet. What do others think? Trying to decide whether to release, find a home for her, etc. We are posting on local forums to see if someone lost a pet. Any other ideas? She appears to have a fungus or other small at the top of her beak. If we don't find a home for her right away will take her to a vet. If anyone is looking for an Eastern Box Turtle as a new pet please let me know as we'd love her to go to a good home.

Thanks all!
I have to tell you that they don't wonder. They have a very small like 2 miles or so range from their home. If she was a pet or wild you can't just release her. That's just things I've read about them when I was wondering what to do with a rescue I had. I eventually found Daisy May a home. If they were a pet or wild they will forever look for home. It's very bad to just release one.
 

Cathie G

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Thanks everyone for the expert opinions that this box turtle appears to be wild. We released her in the spot where we found her (but out of the road) and she took off like she had somewhere to be!
That's good too.
 

Cathie G

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ONlY question= Did you get peed on? My red ear slider I found immediately declared it wildness with a massive urine stream!
Never forget turtles don't like to fly. Always carry them on a towel or pillow or in a bucket ? I only give that advice to friends ☺️
 

Chip's mom

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Circling back to this thread-- our Eastern Herman''s tortoise escaped a few weeks ago (sadly, still looking for him). After I gave flyers to everyone in the surrounding neighborhoods I heard from neighbors sharing a story to not give up hope...They had 3 rescued eastern box turtles from the pet trade that they cared for in their outside enclosure. One had gotten away and made its way home. The timing lines up with this one that we found!
 
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