This is my Ornate Box Turtle named Flash eating an earthworm for dinner.

Eastern box turtles require high humidity, warm temperatures with vertical and horizontal thermal gradients, suitable substrate for burrowing, and full spectrum ultraviolet lighting that mimics sunlight.

I discovered this Eastern Box turtle nesting in my driveway. After she had nested (a 2.5 hour process) I had to dig up the eggs because thay would not have hatched in the driveway. The eggs are now in incubation and will hatch in the late summer. After hatching the babies will spend a year in captivity to give them a good headstart against predators. After a year they will then be released into the wild near the nest site.

They are largely characterized by having a domed shell, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators.

Tripod, the first turtle to become a permanant resident at the Earthshine box turtle rescue and rehabilitation facility, came out of her long hibernation today! Welcome back Tripod! For more about Tripod and the other turtles check out: http://www.geocities.com/thesolorover/earthshinenaturepagesThe song by Jimmy Buffett, “Salty Piece of Land” has nothing to do with Tripod but I just like it so there you go…

Water turtles typically shed their scutes as they grow.

name says it all.

Feeding one of my eastern box turtles.

Water turtles typically shed their scutes as they grow.

http://www.survivalistboards.comWhile picking some peas I found this box turtle in my garden. I guess he was eating some of my peas. So I left him there to eat what he wants.

Mojo has moved about 450 feet west and is resting on the surface in a form under some grass in the middle of a grassy field near the top of the mountain!This is the ongoing saga of “Mojo” the Eastern Box Turtle. Through the magic of modern technology, glimpse into the life of a wild box turtle in its natural environment. For more detailed info on Mojo and my Eastern Box Turtle conservation and tracking program please take a look at the Turtle Tracks website at: http://www.geocities.com/thesolorover/Boxtrack.htmlSpecial Thanks to: Mojo the Eastern Box TurtleEarthshine Mountain Lodge and staffAlan CameronCharlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC.Telenax radio telemetry systemsMarian O’NeilGabrielle Graeter of the NCWRCSteve Irwin “The Crocodile Hunter” for your passion and dedication for preserving the wildlife and wild places of the planet. May your dreams and passion live on in everyone you inspired and may you rest in peace. Stay tuned for more of Mojo’s Tracks!

Most turtle and tortoise societies recommend against box turtles as pets for small children.

By request: Here is a video of the reptiles I keep.

(the box turtle was released a few days after we shot this video)

Water turtles typically shed their scutes as they grow.

The turtle’s name is Snappy. He (or she, who knows..) is a semi-aquatic Malaysian box turtle. The song is “Too Good to be True” by the Four Seasons.

Water turtles typically shed their scutes as they grow.

Bones is out of hibernation and has moved 150 feet north of the spot where he spent the last 7 months!

This is the ongoing saga of “Bones” the Eastern Box Turtle. Through the magic of modern technology, glimpse into the life of a wild box turtle in its natural environment. For more detailed info on Bones and my Eastern Box Turtle conservation and tracking program please take a look at the Turtle Tracks website at: http://www.geocities.com/thesolorover/Boxtrack.html

Music:
Yothu Yindi “Gapu–Tidal Mix”
and
Cusco “Montezuma”

Special Thanks to:

Bones the Eastern Box Turtle

Earthshine Mountain Lodge

The Hagler family

Charlie Green of Turtle Talks in Asheville, NC.

Marian O’Neil

Gabrielle Graeter of the NCWRC

Steve Irwin “The Crocodile Hunter” for your inspiration

Stay tuned for more of Bones Tracks!

A study by Davidson College revealed that a box turtle snapping its jaw shut can produce sounds as loud as 75 dB.