Yesterday (Oct 16, 2023), I found a 3 ½” long NC Box Turtle in the backyard under a bush while clearing out some invasive Japanese Saw Grass. The bush is near the house where the grass is commonly mowed which is not a safe place to leave him. It was getting late when found and kept overnight so he will be released today in a safer place down by the steam in the woods. Box turtles generally do not stray far from were born and should be released in a safe place no further than half a mile.
“Eastern box turtles are the only terrestrial turtle found in North Carolina, and in 1979 they were selected as North Carolina’s State Reptile. Box turtle sightings are common throughout North Carolina, but with continual loss of habitat, propensity to get hit by cars, and a slow maturation and low reproductive rate, box turtles populations are believed to be diminishing. Areas of heavy development and road construction are likely areas where box turtle populations will no longer thrive.” For more check out this web link: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Reptile/Box_Turtle_Wildlife_Profile_UPDATE_2018.pdf
Sadly, Box Turtles are also endangered because they are commonly gathered and sold for $75-200 as pets. So please if you find one, try to release him near by in a safe place where he will do better than being a pet!
ADDED COMMENTS
When I created a web page about finding and needing to move a young box turtle to a safer location within his natural habitat and posted the link on social media, many people seemed very upset and condemned my efforts to protect and keep him safe. I have tried here to provide more details and explain my concerns and actions to keep what I consider an important part of our wildlife safer.
Generally, box turtles should be left alone, as close to where found as possible. According to one of the best professional wildlife experts who I called to verify what I was doing before taking any risks with the little guy, I was informed that a box turtle will generally live and travel with a half mile (2,600 feet +/-) radius. I found this box turtle within our fenced in back yard that is regularly mowed. This left a great possibility that while on the riding mower, I would not see him and he could be run over, seriously harmed, mutilated by the blades, or left dead. His future safety if left where found was a serious concern.
My decision to move him was based on several considerations:
1. Safety: If not moved, the potential of being run over by a mower was very great.
2. Habitat: The woods about 300 feet from where I found him are a safe habitat where he was probably born and likely wandered from.
3. Other Box Turtles: I have seen other box turtles in the woods from were found indicating the woods are a safer habitat well within the half mile radius of what is his natural habitat.
4. Future: At 3 ½” long, he/she is still young. Moving him/her 350 feet to a natural and safer part of what is/was his/her own habitat where he/she was probably born would not only provide him/her better safety, but might later make it easier for him/her to find a mate.
We live on an old farm site. Beyond the fenced in back yard is about 200 feet of a grass covered field that borders the woods. Being busy this summer, I had let the grass in the field which needs to be maintained because it is also our septic system, grow too tall. Based on my knowledge and experience with wildlife here, I believe that he was born in the woods and probably wandered this summer across the deep grass into our yard.
Over the years, at the edge of the grass field, I have seen and moved a few box turtles to safety before mowing. Sometimes they might wander a few feet into the grass field. I normally try to be careful along this part of the field and check before mowing. A couple of times when I found a box turtle, I have carefully picked them up and moved them about 30 feet back into the woods.
About 12 years ago I found a larger box turtle in danger from an injury/illness. He was not able properly move or bring his head out of shell. I took him back to the house, called, and took him to a shelter where he was professionally cared for over a month. I returned him to within 50 feet of where he was found deeper into the woods. That was a very time-consuming and expensive process, but something important and well worth the cost. That helped me learn about and understand issues about handling and moving box turtles from where they are found.
This small 3 1/2inch long, young box turtle is the first one I have seen beyond the edge of the woods. Where I found him indicates he had wandered from his natural habitat in the woods where he was safer and had probably been born.
Several years ago, I saw a box turtle trying to cross the street in Hillsborough. I stopped and pulled my car over to try to protect a box turtle crossing the road. Just after I had safely parked my car and opened the door, another car ran him over. Sadly there was nothing I could do. This box turtle’s safety from being harmed or very possibly run over by a mower is important. That is why I weighed the options and took the time and effort to find him a safer habitat within acceptable guild lines. My hopes and prayers are that he will thrive and be safe
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