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by E.C. Ball
cup ring sock rabbit 2 spoons
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lips canoe lemon 4 birds
flag tooth 4 hearts toothbrush
Answers on page 30
plum horse pencil bracelet art brush
4 Box Turtles Activities: 6 Boxy's New Amigo 9 The Gopher Tortoise Puzzles: 2, 14, 15 10 There IS a Difference! Turtle Rhymes: 18 1 1 Turtles Wearing Girdles Science: 23 12 Saving the Loggerhead Turtle Funnies: 28, 29 Puzzle Solutions: 30 16 The Gentle Giants 19 The Great Race 20 Max & Gracie 21 All About the Painted Turtle 22 Turtle with a Temper 24 Behold the Turtle 25 Don't Let Your Turtle Get Sick 26 The Turtles of Bird Island 27 Logan's List
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by Alan James Garbers Warm spring breezes gently caressed the forest floor. Fiddlehead ferns and May apples were pushing their way up through the litter of broken twigs, leaves, and bark left by forgotten winter storms. Under the gray branches of a birch tree, a small hump of earth and leaves slowly rose in the warm afternoon sun. A small leathery head emerged from the mound, and two dark eyes blinked away the long winter's sleep. Stretching its neck out like a telescope, the animal cautiously watched for signs of danger. Feeling that all is safe, a box turtle used its powerful clawed feet to propel itself out of its winter hole. Now it can bask in the warm rays of sunlight. Box turtles like moist woodlands, swampy bottom lands, and wet meadows. They often are seen crossing roads early in the morning or after a rain. Many box turtles don't make it across a busy highway. They end up as a meal for scavenging raccoons, crows, and buzzards. Because the bottom shell of the box turtle is hinged, it can draw in its legs, tail, and head, totally closing off its openings to predators. This can discourage raccoons, foxes, opossums, and other predators. But it won't stop the powerful, crushing jaws of an alligator or the wheels of a car. What if you see a box turtle ambling across the road? If you love turtles, you may be tempted to rescue it. Don’t do this and then release it far away. Even though the box turtle has a “homing” instinct, it won’t be able to find its way home if it’s more than a quarter of a mile. So, at this point, the best thing to do is just help the turtle across the road, but be very careful of traffic!
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Box turtles like to eat grubs, insects, earthworms, blackberries, mulberries, strawberries, grasses, and mushrooms. Unfortunately, while box turtles can eat poisonous mushrooms and not be harmed, their bodies absorb the poison. This can kill anyone eating the turtle. This didn't stop hungry Indians and desperate pioneers from risking their lives using the box turtle or its eggs for dinner. Indians used the empty box turtle shells for ceremonial rattles and often buried them with their dead. This practice might have been due to the box turtle's habit of hibernating in the ground during the winter. The turtle's body functions can slow down to a deathlike state. When hibernating, the turtle no longer needs to breathe because its skin can absorb enough oxygen for it to survive. When the rays of the sun warm the ground in the spring, the turtle awakens and crawls out, as if rising from a grave. Box turtles start their lives in midsummer, when they hatch in a shallow pit hidden by their mother. A usual clutch (nest) has three to five leathery eggs. If snakes, birds, coyotes, and other hungry predators don't find the vulnerable, tasty eggs, the young turtles hatch out. They immediately start looking for food. Box turtles are slow growing and take five to seven years to mature. These turtles have a long lifespan and make popular pets. Their owners often design an outdoor pen that has everything the box turtle needs for a healthy life. Indians sometimes kept pet box turtles for generations, with some turtles living to be 100 years old! Many reptile and turtle clubs abound for those who are curious. Pen designs and feeding and health care instructions can all be found in the library or on the Internet. NOTE: Box turtles, as with all reptiles, can carry salmonella bacteria. Proper hygiene should be followed after any contact with the turtles.
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by Peggy Thorne • illustrated by Pamela Harden
Stacy looked around her new bedroom. “Well, Boxy,” she said, “I guess this is it. Our new home.” She walked to the window and looked out. The backyard was small, but the lawn was neatly clipped. Beyond the yard was the desert – sand, rocks, and cacti. To Stacy, the desert looked strange, unfriendly, and a little scary. She shivered and then walked to her bed. On it sat a pet carrier – the kind a large cat or a small dog might travel in. Stacy opened the carrier and gently lifted Boxy out. She held the turtle on her lap and talked to him. She told him how she felt about moving to Arizona, leaving her friends behind, and starting at a new school in the middle of the year. Boxy listened patiently. Then he bumped her hand with his head and wiggled his legs gently. Stacy smiled. Suddenly, she felt much braver. The desert probably is pretty interesting, she thought. What kinds of animals would live there? Lizards, snakes, coyotes – maybe even antelope. “I guess it’s time to check out the backyard,” she said. Holding Boxy in both hands, she walked carefully downstairs and out the back door. Her mother had already set out Boxy’s pan and filled it with water. Stacy watched as her turtle nibbled the grass and then walked slowly toward the pan. With a good push from his hind legs, he was up and over the edge, splashing happily in the shallow water. Stacy grinned. She loved watching Boxy play. Then a soft voice called, “Hello!” Stacy looked over her shoulder. A girl was standing in the yard of the house next door. “Hi,” said Stacy as she scrambled to her feet and walked across the yard. “My name’s Stacy.” “I’m Linda. I’ve been waiting for you to move in. I was hoping there’d be a girl.” Stacy smiled. “Me, too.” “Hey,” said Linda, “are those your turtles?” Stacy turned to look. She’d left Boxy alone, of course, but now there were two turtles splashing in the big plastic pan! “One of them is,” she said uncertainly. “The orange and black one is Boxy, but I’ve never seen the other one before.” Linda frowned. “Uh-oh,” she said, then waved a hand at the desert. “It probably came from out there. Sometimes wild tortoises wander into town. But they told us in school that we’re not supposed to touch them. I don’t think they’re supposed to be playing with pet turtles, either. I’d better tell my mother.”
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Linda ran inside her house, then came out a minute later. “She’s calling the Game and Fish Department to find out what to do.” “I hope we didn’t cause any problems,” said Stacy. “Me, too.” Linda paused for a moment, then asked, “Why do you call your turtle Boxy? He’s not rectangular.” Stacy laughed. “It’s because he’s an American box turtle. I didn’t name him, though. My grandmother did. He belonged to her when she was a girl. “Really?” Linda’s eyes were wide with astonishment. “How old is he?” “Sixty.” “Wow,” said Linda. “My abuela will love this story!” “Your ab-abuela?” Stacy stumbled over the unfamiliar word. "It’s Spanish for grandmother,” explained Linda. “Oh,” said Stacy. The two new friends watched as Boxy and the tortoise splashed in the pan. Suddenly, Linda giggled. “Wouldn’t it be funny if they were talking too?” Stacy laughed. “Boxy could be telling the tortoise what it’s like to live in a house . . .” “And the tortoise could be telling Boxy all about the desert,” finished Linda. Meanwhile, Boxy and the tortoise had been talking. “And you have to watch out for the coyotes,” continued Pedro. “There’s nothing they like better than a nice tortoise snack.” Boxy wiggled his head nervously. “What’s a coyote?” “They’re like wild dogs, but meaner and quicker.” Boxy shook his head. “I’m glad there aren’t any coyotes indoors,” he said. “Stacy doesn’t even have a cat.” “How’s the food?” asked Pedro. Boxy smiled. “Delicious! Lettuce, tomatoes, apples, strawberries – oh, and as many rose petals and dandelion leaves as you can eat!” “Wow,” said Pedro. “It sounds wonderful! I used to live with a family too,” he added wistfully, “but my owners turned me loose. I’m not very good at finding food in the desert.” Boxy bumped his head against his new friend’s shell. “I’ve got an idea, Pedro . . .” “Stacy! Time for dinner!” “OK, Mom!” Stacy said good-bye to her new friend and then skipped across to the water pan. She picked up Boxy and started toward the house. “Hey!” called Linda. “Look at that!” Stacy turned around. The strange tortoise was following her. Then Stacy noticed something funny about the tortoise’s shell. She bent down to examine it. “I think he wants to stay,” said Linda.
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“And I think I know why!” said Stacy. “He’s got a number painted on his back. He must have been somebody’s pet!” “Oh, no,” said Linda. “I know there are laws against turning pet tortoises loose in the desert. They can make the wild tortoises sick.” Stacy shook her head regretfully. “I know Mom won’t let me keep him. She only let me have Boxy because he belonged to Grandma.” Stacy’s turtle began struggling in her arms. “No!” he seemed to be saying. “No, no, no!” Just then, the eerie wail of a coyote pierced the evening air. The little tortoise began moving faster. Stacy looked at her new friend. “Do you think your mom would let you keep him?” “I don’t know. Are they hard to look after?” Stacy shook her head. “They’re easy. I can teach you everything!” Linda ran inside her house once again. She came out with an enormous grin on her face, then bent down and carefully picked up the tortoise. Quick as a wink, his head and legs disappeared inside his shell. Then, slowly, his little brown head peeked out. It was as though he knew he had found a friend. “The Game and Fish people said we should keep him overnight. They’re going to come by tomorrow morning. My mom says they might let us adopt him! Will you talk to them too? You can tell them you’ll teach me how to look after him!” “Sure,” Stacy said with a smile. “I’d be glad to.” “Good night, Pedro!” called Boxy. The tortoise waved one leg in farewell. “Sleep well, amigo. I’ll see you in the morning!”
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The Gopher Tortoise by Linda F. Crabtree
Have you ever watched a mound of sandy dirt in your backyard when, suddenly, you see a hole start to appear? If you watch closely, you might see claws digging up from underneath the earth. A gopher tortoise will use its claws to dig out of its home underneath the sandy dirt. That is what Spike, Speedy, Nike, and Elvis do when they want to venture out into the wonderful world above them. These little fellows are young gopher tortoises that live in sunny Florida.
Their native homes are in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Gopher tortoises are heavily protected by environmental laws on federal wildlife refuges and national parks. They are on the threatened or endangered species list in every state in which they live. Working together, we may be able to help the gopher tortoise from being an endangered species.
Most states prohibit keeping a gopher tortoise as a pet. There are many other species of tortoises and turtles that would make good pets. Before buying a tortoise as a pet, it is best to read about the different species. Learn about which type would make the best pet for you and your family. Tortoises that are kept inside must have a source of light – and sometimes heat – to substitute for natural sunlight. A pet store is a Unlike turtles, tortoises live on dry land all the time. good place to learn about the correct supplies and type The gopher tortoise will dig deep burrows that it shares of enclosure needed for your new pet. with several different animals, such as the gopher frog and various species of snakes. After a burrow has been abandoned, different animals will live in it. The fox squirrel, opossum, raccoon, and even bobcats find their way into the burrow. Remember to never put your hand into a burrow because of the many different animals that declare the hole in the ground to be their home! We caught Spike, Speedy, Nike, and Elvis just sitting in the sun, as if they were in deep concentration about what to do next in the life of a gopher tortoise. At times, they move extremely slowly, just taking in all the sights and sounds around them. Other times, they may move much faster than what is expected of the legendary slow turtle.
Tortoises do not have teeth, but they have strong jaws. The gopher tortoise will eat grass, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, and many fruits. If you are lucky enough to spot a gopher tortoise in the wild, use this chance to watch its delightful habits, such as the way they enjoy slowly munching on grass. They taste every bite as if it were a gourmet meal.
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