carolina (common box turtle), covering the largest area, lives from Michigan and Maine on the north, and ranges south to the boundaries of the other subspecies. triunguis (3 toed box turtle) lives in the Mississippi River Valley from northern Missouri southward across southeastern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma into south-central Texas and southeastward across western Tennessee and Georgia to the coastal lowlands. major (Gulf Coast box turtle) ranges from the panhandle of Florida westward along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas. Terrapene carolina bauri (Florida box turtle) lives on the peninsula of Florida. There are four subspecies of Terrapene carolina in the U.S. Due to its popularity as a household pet, Terrapene carolina is sometimes found far outside its normal geographic range. Have you found an injured turtle in the North Mecklenburg Area? Carolina Veterinary Specialists may be able to help.Exclusively North American, box turtles are found in the eastern United States, ranging from southern Maine to Florida along the East Coast, and west to Michigan, Illinois, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Rather – if it is safe – move the box turtle to the side of the road. A box turtle released away from its home range will often wander until it dies. If you find a box turtle on the road, do not take it home with you and release it. Box turtles also possess a homing instinct. Because they take so long to mature, it is hard for box turtle populations to recover from these pressures. They also suffer from collection as pets. They are very susceptible to habitat fragmentation, and road-related mortality. Miscellaneous: Eastern box turtles are declining over much of their range. Hatchling box turtles measure only 1.25 inches (3 cm) in length. Once mature, a female box turtle will lay between 3 and 6 eggs each spring in a shallow nest which hatch in late summer or early fall. Reproduction: Eastern box turtles mature slowly, reaching sexual maturity between 7 and 10 years of age. They do not travel far, usually living within an area less than 200 meters in diameter. Although they can live in a variety of habitats, they prefer moist forested areas with large amounts of underbrush. Habitat/Range: Box turtles live in a wide variety of habitats from forested areas to dry grassy meadows to swamps and sandhills. If it feels threatened, eastern box turtle can close itself completely within its shell. They are active during the day (diurnal), particularly after rains. As they mature their diet shifts from primarily animals towards one that includes more plant material.Īctivity/Behavior: The eastern box turtle is the only fully terrestrial turtle encountered in North Carolina. They will eat almost anything that they can fit in their mouths including worms, insects, fruit and berries, mushrooms, and carrion – among other food items. Finally, the plastron of male box turtles is concave while the female’s is not.įeeding/Diet: Eastern box turtles are omnivores. Females possess a more highly domed carapace. Males usually possess red eyes, while the eyes of a female are usually brown. Females can be distinguished from males based off several characteristics. Coloration and amount of pattern are variable, but the carapace is usually brown with a orange or yellow pattern. While mud and musk turtles also possess hinged plastrons, box turtles are the only species which can shut their plastron completely. They have a hinged plastron (bottom of shell). Description: Eastern box turtles are small to medium sized turtles, attaining a maximum length of 8 inches (20 cm) and possessing a highly domed carapace (top of shell).
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