Box Turtle

[Feathers and Fins]

Great little animals, I have had them and sure many others have some are treasured family members. I haven't had on in my garden this year but what is up with all the rabbits.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Some interesting facts.

There are two species in the Ozardks, Three Toed and Ornate. Lettuce is a bad diet for them. In my neck of the woods they cross the road during spring looking for mate and are very seldom hit M-F, but when the tourist come in late in their season on weekends they aren't so lucky. If it gets cold they dig into the dirt and leaf mulch.

[stlfisher]

I see ton's of them around my house in the spring. Before we moved to the "country'" I rarely saw them, but I was shocked how many we see at our new place.

I actually found one on our deck one morning...which is about 12 feet off the ground. I guess the dog must have carried him up the stairs, because there was now way he got up their on his own.

[jdmidwest]

Lots of bunnies this year. I have been letting them ride because they did not bother the garden this year. Until I tried to plant fall beans. 2 plantings got up and put on a few leaves, then overnight they were reduced to stubble. This dearth that has been going on since mid July has brought them into the garden. No fall beans.

As far as the turtles, a few years ago when I was tilling the garden, I plowed up a nest of eggs. I figured from the size and shape, they were probably box turtles. All were pretty well ruined when I found them. Nice and round, leatherly. Freshly laid as there was not any embryo.

[Ham]

I didn't know much about them until yesterday when I did a little reading. They are territorial and long lived. They can live up to 50 years. it's very unusual to see juveniles.

Did you get to the part about them living their entire lives within a few hundred square yards IF they have all their habitat needs met? Or the part where the female box turtle can hang onto the sperm from a male turtle for several yearsin case she doesn't bump into a male turtle when the time is right. Monica Lewinsky hasn't got anything on FEMALE BOX TURTLE.

[Quillback]

Well until reading up on them, I did not realize how territorial and long lived they are. The one in that photo is probably the same one I've seen around the house over the past 8 years.

You know I might just name the one that hangs around the house "Monica".

[Ham]

_{Well until reading up on them, I did not realize how territorial and long lived they are. The one in that photo is probably the same one I've seen around the house over the past 8 years.}

_{You know I might just name the one that hangs around the house "Monica".}

_{Lol. I've seen an ornate a couple of times. The shell on the ornate has a lot less dome look than the 3 toed. One of them was very young and it's shell was almost as flat as a river turtle.}

[mic]

What is good for them besides melons?

Some interesting facts.

There are two species in the Ozardks, Three Toed and Ornate. Lettuce is a bad diet for them. In my neck of the woods they cross the road during spring looking for mate and are very seldom hit M-F, but when the tourist come in late in their season on weekends they aren't so lucky. If it gets cold they dig into the dirt and leaf mulch.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I got all of that from a cousin who was an MDC approved rescuer. I don't remeber all of what she told me, but nightcrawlers, small pieces of hamburger, insects, apple, things like broccoli, etc. Apparently there are two things worng with lettuce, it's mostly water and it has few vitamins and nutrients.

[Ham]

They are omnivores. Bugs, worms, carrion, veggies, mushrooms, and fruits. They really get excited about an earthworm.