DoubleD1996!
Well-Known Member
There's nothing wrong with brumating a cold tolerant animal outside at all. So long as you are properly prepared.
You can literally fill your enclosure with mulch and leaves, and put some boards on top to keep the rain out. Box turtles can even get wet and will even brunate in water depending on the species, but you should avoid it as caution.I've literally used kiddie pools upside down with leaves and mulch for years and it's worked fine.
As Jeff said, if there is still food in the gut, it could be an issue. Turtles have to thermo regulate to aid in digestion. So any food left in the gut can rot and potentially kill your box turtle.
I stopped feeding maybe a week ago, yet they still forage for food on their own such as snails, isopodes and worms. I can't stop them. They know what they're doing.
I find box turtles in the woods near trees nestled down with part of their shells exposed during the heart of winter.
I recommend checking out garden state tortoise video here. It should put you at ease. There's no need to panic my friend.
You can literally fill your enclosure with mulch and leaves, and put some boards on top to keep the rain out. Box turtles can even get wet and will even brunate in water depending on the species, but you should avoid it as caution.I've literally used kiddie pools upside down with leaves and mulch for years and it's worked fine.
As Jeff said, if there is still food in the gut, it could be an issue. Turtles have to thermo regulate to aid in digestion. So any food left in the gut can rot and potentially kill your box turtle.
I stopped feeding maybe a week ago, yet they still forage for food on their own such as snails, isopodes and worms. I can't stop them. They know what they're doing.
I find box turtles in the woods near trees nestled down with part of their shells exposed during the heart of winter.
I recommend checking out garden state tortoise video here. It should put you at ease. There's no need to panic my friend.