Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had my first eastern box wake up today. Its one of the youngsters and found it taking a drink from the pond. It has been real warm past few days(65-75) and it is the earliest to come up since I have had them (7 years). So far all the others are still underground. I usually don't see them until the last week March first week of April here in central NJ.
Phil

Hi There,
I grew up in Monmouth County New Jersey and we always had a pen that we kept a couple of Box Turtles in behind our garage. I can remember seeing them " come up" in late February if we had a few warm days. They would then again, disappear for 3 or 4 weeks if we got more cold weather. I think that the Box Turtles know just what to do! Glad that you are into box turtles, I have one Western Ornate (Captive Bred, ( don't believe it) and one baby Eastern, Captive bred (FOR SURE) and will soon be getting another captive bred baby. FYI, I don't know where you are from, but I grew up in West Cental NJ. Last year, I rode my bike on the trail from Keyport to Belford and saw 2!! very highly colored males on the trail. I did not think that they were even around anymore!! I hear that the Natco Lakes nature preserve is a GREAT habitat for box turtles.
Take care,
Lloyd

We had record highs last week, it was in the 80s some days but it's still cold at night. It's supposed to be 37 tonight.
I've been watching for signs of box turtles out in the TX desert, haven't seen anything yet. No reptiles of any kind just yet but I think by the end of March I should see something.
The big red ants are beginning to become active so I think once they're all opened up & out the reptiles shouldn't be too far behind.
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PHRatz