Eastern Box Turtle

by Shannon Bradburn Pragosa

Eastern Box Turtles are part of the reptile family. They are terrestrial turtles, meaning they spend all of their time living on land. They can be found all over North Carolina except at the Outer Banks.

Eastern Box Turtles are very pretty. Just like with humans, each individual is unique. Some have red spots, some have orange streaks, some even have a yellow pattern on their shell. They all have four toes on each foot. This helps them move around on the forest floor and look for food.

These little turtles love to eat berries, native flowers, seeds, mushrooms, and any small animal they can catch like snails, slugs and even small birds and frogs.

For the most part, these turtles do not get very large. Males can grow up to about 8 inches long while females are normally a little bit smaller. Due to their small size and pretty color, sometimes people will remove them from the wild to be pets. This is very dangerous to the turtle and causes a lot of stress that can lead to them becoming sick or even dying. The best way to befriend an Eastern Box Turtle is to protect their habitat and look with your eyes, not your hands, so that they can remain safe and calm while you spend some time together.

Which of these animals is in the same family as the Eastern Box Turtle?

Frog Lizard Salamander

You can tell how old an Eastern Box Turtle is by counting the rings on their shell, just like how you would count the rings on a tree! By the time the turtle reaches 15 years old the rings get very close together so it becomes harder to know their exact age.

Male Eastern Box Turtles normally have red or orange eyes while females normally have brown eyes.

Eastern Box Turtles love yards with native plants! They need somewhere to hide, like in an old brush pile or around fallen trees or logs. They need somewhere they can get sunshine, but still be protected like in tall grass or tall native plants. Some of their favorite snacks are wild berries and grapes, so having those in your yard will help them want to stick around.

One of the main threats that face Eastern Box Turtles is humans. These little turtles do not move fast, and because of this they can easily get hit by cars, especially when traveling on back roads or driveways. If you come across a turtle that has been injured you should call your local Wildlife Agency. They will be able to assist you in helping to provide the turtle with the care it needs. You can also call the NC Wildlife Helpline at (866) 318-2401 to obtain the name and telephone number of a licensed rehabilitator in your area. It is never a good idea to take a wild animal out of its environment and take it home to be a pet. This stresses the animal and can cause it to become sick.

Eastern Box Turtles also face habitat loss. They need tall grass and native plants to live. They often times end up in fields while the crops grow, but when it is time for the crops to be harvested, they get hurt from the machines. Leaving part of your yard as a native space will help to provide a habitat for Eastern Box Turtles.

Circle the Answer—Turtles and lizards are both in the reptile family. Salamanders and frogs are amphibians, not reptiles.

True or False?—True