I live in south Bexar County Texas. Seems like perfect Ornate Box Turtle habitat, and yet have not seen on this year (based on road kill).
I see plenty of Red-eared Sliders and Yellow-necked Mud Turtles DOR, but no Box Turtles.
There are tremendous numbers of Grasshoppers and Crickets here and the habitat is mixed hardwood/prairie/grassland. The soil is sandy loam.
So, where have all the Box Turtles gone? Fire ants are present, but not that serious an issue I'd think. Plenty of lizards and toads. They manage. Not too many Raccoons, either.
There are huge tracts of undeveloped land and great distances between roadways. It's not urban. It's agricultural land mostly.
The only thing I can think of must have been agricultural pesticide for the crops wiped them out. There are tons of Grasshoppers. Did the Box Turtles eat toxic Grasshoppers?
Anyone have any good answers to this one?
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

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