Eastern Box Turtles Getting Active

[Len B]

After several weeks of well below average temperatures and about twice the amount of rainfall for April we are finally getting a break and getting back to more normal temps, but supposed to get up to an inch and half of rain tomorrow. Today I released the adult box turtles from theirwinter pen back into the big yard. Here's pics of the ones that are up and eating that I set out.These turtles live mostly wild, I only handle twice a year, once in the spring to set them out and then in the fall to put them back in the winter pen.There are 2 more females that I didn't put in the winter pen last fall and I saw one of them a week or so ago out in the yard but haven't seen her since. Turning them loose usually happens around May 1st so we are right on schedule.

 

[ZenHerper]

They are beauts!

 

[MichaelL]

Wow so cool! Do you feed them or let them hunt naturally? Also, how is the one doing that was staying small?

 

[Len B]

They are beauts!

Thanks, I think so too. They are still dirty and will show their true colors after being rained on to wash the dust off.

 

[Len B]

Wow so cool! Do you feed them or let them hunt naturally? Also, how is the one doing that was staying small?

Yes and no. I do leave multi species pond fish food pellets out for them to find, but they are very good at fending for themselves at finding food. Tiny the small one is doing fine but still smaller than normal is the one in the nextto last pic.

 

[Len B]

2 more spotted today one in the winter pen and the other is one that I didn't find last fall to put in the pen This is where I spotted it, at first I thought it was Tiny and was stuck between a rain barrel and the wall. I don't know if it was stuck or not but it didn't return back to that spot after taking the pic.

 

[Len B]

This morning was a great morning to go turtle hunting. Temps in the 60s with a strong sun, many were out warming up. Here are some pics from this morning of some of the easterns.

 

[ColleenT]

Mine are up and about but are not eating yet. i wish they would. it makes me so nervous. I know they will soon.

 

[Len B]

Mine are up and about but are not eating yet. i wish they would. it makes me so nervous. I know they will soon.

I'm a little concernd about them eating because they went down earlier than normal last fall because of the dry spell we had and getting active later than normal due to the chilly spring we've had so far.

 

[method89]

They look beautiful, Len. Do you have any predators to worry about? I would be up all night looking for trash pandas

 

[Len B]

They look beautiful, Len. Do you have any predators to worry about? I would be up all night looking for trash pandas

2 summers ago I had something take a pair of Peking ducks, took one on a Saturday night and came back for the other one the next night. These were adult ducks and whatever it was, was big enough to carry them off. Couldn't find any foot prints so figured it was some kind of larger cat. And since then 2 bob cats have been seen near me. One was hit by a car and killed and the other was alive but someone got a pic of it .I put a trail camera out right after the ducks were carried off and the only things caught on camera were cats and possums. Nothing has ever bothered the turtles or tortoises. I do have a permanent predator that is only here for the warm weather, a large frog that will eat anything it can fit into it's mouth. .

 

[ColleenT]

I'm a little concernd about them eating because they went down earlier than normal last fall because of the dry spell we had and getting active later than normal due to the chilly spring we've had so far.

Same. i was worried i didn't get enough fat into them, but they all woke up and they are still not hungry.

 

[Len B]

They are all up now, This little female the last one to show herself came out yesterday during the rain. Because of her smaller size she will not be released in the big yard. She will stay in the 16 x 24 ft pen away from the males.

 

[ZenHerper]

Wow - she's a beauty!

 

[Len B]

This girl is not just colorful, she is one of the best hunter, stalker box turtles i have ever seen. I was moving some lumber this morning and she came out to see what was going on.She is one that I don't have to worry about getting enough to eat. But I went ahead and gathered some worms and slugs for her.

 

[Len B]

Wow - she's a beauty!

I think so too, I love the color varieties you get with eastern box turtles.