spring 2025

[mark1]

meteorological spring started yesterday, 24F right now, water temp in the ponds 42F, air temps been bouncing between 17F and 50F for the last 2 weeks, i think we had 3 days hit 50F......... does what these turtles are doing fit the idea of brumating/hibernating ?

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Our temps are finally getting steady with 50F-60F during the day.

Oddly enough, I saw a little more activity when it was cooler.

 

[mark1]

we were 60F two days in a row....were back to 20's and snow..
.... i have a pen with 4 female wood turtles, i haven't seen any of them since november, today 29F and sunny i seen one come up for some air....... they seem to prefer cold and sun over cool and cloudy

 

[Yvonne G]

My pond is awake and eating. I guess winter is overwith here.

 

[mark1]

i'm hoping our weather turns soon...... this week looks at least sunny, we usually get snow in april......

 

[mark1]

i went and dug this guy up yesterday, 3-10, he been down since the first week of november...... he was really light in weight last october, so i had planned on getting him first chance i had ...... he looks really good, doesn't seem any lighter than he was last november, and he ate today.... he's hibernated every year since i found him , he's probably 4yrs about 3".......

here's the exposed soil temps for this area, during this guys hibernation, blue line...... the soil temps are for 0-4"....... this guy without question never went deeper than 1", he was at most 1/2" deep where i found him

november 2024

december 2024

january 2025

february 2025

march 2025

 

[mark1]

was 35F on the 14th, was also 79F on the 14th, the 15th was 70F, today, the 16th it's 61F, tomorrow the 17th is supposed to be 30F and snow.......

 

[TammyJ]

Tricky, inconsistent weather!
Up in the hills here, we may have a hot (84F) bright blue morning and one hour later, lowering clouds and then pouring rain and 78F. Life in the Tropics

 

[mark1]

how's the humidity on a day like that 84F-78F and pouring rain? definitely reptile weather......

inconsistent is normal for temperate species of turtles and tortoises, it's clear it's what they have evolved for....... the 35F-79F temp swing is actually worse than 44 degrees, the 35 was sunless, the 79F was full sun, the 79F could have 100F basking

i put the box turtle that emerged too early back out , so i gave him a heat source, a 250w infrared heat bulb, if he wanted it....... i've done this with great outcomes in the late fall, early spring many times...... it moderates the temps..... i've used a mercury vapor lamp on a timer before, to come on midday for a 4-5hours.......

these guys are native to my climate.... i look at it as if they can survive the naturally here, they have it made with me helping them.......

first time i seen her in about 5 months, she looks good

it's always a relief to see everybody......

 

[mark1]

was 68F on the 28th, was 72F on the 29th, the 30th was 65F, today is currently 38F, high tomorrow is supposed to be 39F, wednesday 70F, thursday 70F, friday 50F.....

pics were taken at 39F

 

[Chefdenoel10]

we were 60F two days in a row....were back to 20's and snow..
.... i have a pen with 4 female wood turtles, i haven't seen any of them since november, today 29F and sunny i seen one come up for some air....... they seem to prefer cold and sun over cool and cloudy

Who doesn’t….

 

[mark1]

45F and overcast....... i hatched this girl in 2015........ we had a really cold winter, she appears to have gotten lucky again....... there are 9 species of turtles within a 30 minute drive of my house, must mean the climate here is optimal for turtles......

 

[Chefdenoel10]

45F and overcast....... i hatched this girl in 2015........ we had a really cold winter, she appears to have gotten lucky again....... there are 9 species of turtles within a 30 minute drive of my house, must mean the climate here is optimal for turtles......

What a beautiful creature God has given you.

 

[mark1]

first 4 box turtles that emerged on their own was today....... 4-05, 60F and overcast, we've had a lot of rain over the last week.... we are expecting temps in the 20's and snow next week.......


ground temps

air temps and rain

under about 12" of packed leaves the ground temp is 10F colder than exposed ground

 

[mark1]

got up to 65 yesterday, lots of turtles out and eating.... i fed everybody i seen liver.........

today it' 36F no one is out.......

the water maybe 50F, the air is 36F, i'm certain this turtle is looking at me for food......... i use to fish the rivers around here every winter as long as they weren't frozen, if fish eat at just above freezing temps, how does that work????

 

[mark1]

april 13th, was 27F this morning, 52F when i took the pics.....

 

[mark1]

yesterday

today

air temp 74F right now full sun...... wednesday supposed to be 37F, thursday is supposed to be 34F......... last time this guy ate was october 29th 2024.... they've all been gone since the first week of november, 10-12 of these box turtles have not emerged, looking at our weather forecast it looks like it will be may before they do