Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My children and I have volunteered to help with at box turtle conservation project at our local park nature center. We are supposed to search for box turtles on the grounds of the nature center, about 300 acres, and use a GPS to record the location where they are found. We are also supposed to log information about them and return them to their homes. At this point we need to find them. Is there anyone else in PA? Apparently fewer and fewer box turtles have been seen in the state over the past 20 years. Anyone have suggetions about the best places to look. I have read in our PA Reptiles and Amphibians book that they are most active in the morning, but it is hard to know where would be best to look. Thanks for any help.

Barb

The staff at the nature center (or whomever organized the project) ought to be able to provide you with all of the information you need about when and where to look for them in that particular locale...

That's why we are doing the project. The staff at the nature center is one person, the naturalist. She said they have seen very few box turtles in the area. She does not have time to do the project all by herself, so she is relying on volunteers. We are the first to volunteer. I homeschool, so we are able to get started right away. She will teach us to use the equipment, but we need to locate the turtles. She said she would eventually like to start a breeding program as well. She works for the county and is very busy. I thought this forum might be helpful.

Barb

I thought it also might be helpful to let you know where the project originated. This the web site for the original project:
http://www.mckeever.org/turtle.html Our local naturalist received grant money to purchase some equipment for the project, but she is also running a barn owl project as well as all her regular programming. We want to help get things started. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Barb

Not much help, but I found this searching through several sites.
"Box turtles are common residents of the woods in the southeastern U.S.. They are often encountered after rains, walking slowly across the forest floor."

I always found them in the woods on accident. Often there would be a creek or small water source near by.

"They prefer moist woodlands and wet, brushy fields, especially where sandy soil is prevalent. They are occasionally found in bogs, marshes, and meadows."

Good Luck!

I think this is great! I grew up in Southern NJ, very close to Philly. I used to find hundreds of wild box turtles every year both in the field and on roadways in NJ. My grandfather had a trailer in the Poconos, and we would travel throughout the beautiful state of Pennsylvania throughout the year. I'd find Bog, Spotted, and Wood turtles while sharing my time trout fishing in your clean, clear streams. Now that you mention it, I don't think I ever found a box turtle in PA!! I certainly should have, with all of the traveling about.

I think you have a tough task ahead of you, with their apparent scarcity. I'll give you a few of my box turtling tips. Box turtles always seem to show up when you least expect them. About the time you give up...boom, there one is. I've spent hours searching damp woodlands only to save a box turtle from certain smashing on the drive home.

Rain, rain, rain...eastern box turtles love rain! Your hot times are going to be during periods of rain, as well as the hours following a shower. The temperature that they seem to thrive in is about 73F to 83F. If it's much cooler or warmer than that, they won't move a whole lot. I know it doesn't get scorching in PA, but if you have a few days of very hot temperatures...like approaching 90, and then you have an afternoon thunderstorm, they should start moving en masse. Also, mornings when it has rained all night or all the day before and then the sun comes out and the temperature begins to rise, they should come up to forage when the temperature is right. I really think that this is when they'll be active for the longest period. The ground is soaked well, the slugs and worms are moving about, and they often seem to stay active for the greater part of the day following the rain.

Another thing you want to look for is food sources. Obviously, bugs are everywhere. Box turtles consume vast quantities of bugs. But, they also love berries. Look for wild blueberry bushes and stands of wild raspberry. A box turtle will often camp out nearby.

People are going to think that I'm crazy, but I can sometimes track a box turtle. Place one on the ground, sandy soil works the best. I know you don't have a whole lot of sandy soil where you are. Anyway, the box turtle will make tracks. They are very distinct. Rains will smooth out the ground. Open ground is usually found on walking and biking trails. After the rain, the turtles will come out and make tracks along the paths. When you get good, you can even tell which direction the turtle is traveling. For now, just search both sides of the path. Turtles usually don't move too far. Also, I've found that turtles make little tunnels...I think the technical name is "form". They are shallow grooves in the leaf litter usually 4 to 5 inches wide. The turtles will dig through looking for worms and other forage. I've found these literally 10 feet in length, meandering about, with a turtle dug in at one end. When a box turtle is buried in leaf litter, it is virtually invisible. This is how they remain for the majority of their lives. Looking for these forms could help point them out.

One more thing. I know this is terribly long, but you seemed desperate and I'm hopped up on coffee If this area you are searching has roadways...do something called road cruising. Before and again after you search, drive all of the roads that you reasonably can within your target area. If you're doing it at the correct times, I can promise you that you'll find more on the roads than in the woods. You can literally walk by a box turtle sitting at your feet in the forest, they blend in amazingly well. But, they stick out like a sore thumb on the roadway. Good luck, and please...bring a digital camera, take some photos for us, and post them on this site. I'd love to see a wild PA box turtle! Also, you'll most likely stumble across one of my favorite animals...the Wood turtle. I'd love to see photos of them also. We can walk you through the process of loading a pic on this site when the time comes. Keep us updated on your progress. I travel to the Poconos once yearly, and my wife and I would love to stop and help you with your search if it's not too terribly far from us. My newborn also loves the woods! Daddy's girl

I just checked out the McKeever website, and it is much too far for me to travel. It seems like a great place, though. That male turtle, Red, is absolutely stunning! In that area of PA, you may want to spend a little time around boggy or swampy areas. I know it's not technically the research, but you may find one of PA's last remaining Blanding's turtles. They're supposed to be extirpated, but I found one crossing a highway back in the mid 90's. Unfortunately, I had other things on my mind. I made no photographic or notational record.

Have the turtles already been equipped with transmitters, and are you using equipment to locate and track them? What part of PA are you located in?

Barb,
Your intentions are truly commendable and also extremely demanding. Many of the members on this forum are also involved in conservation efforts; as for many it is a lifelong commitment. Understand that having knowledge of how to keep Box Turtles in captivity does not necessarily mean those knowledgeable enthusiasts can pinpoint where to find boxies in a specific area. General information already given above is where to start. And as a conservationists yourself; please understand that if such knowledge were ever divulged on this forum any collectors who monitor this site for the purpose of perpetual box turtle collection, would use that knowledge to further decimate your already declining local boxie population. To find any species the same rules apply. You will need to learn all you can about that species. It takes time and much more than can be written in one post. Don’t give up your conservation efforts. Dogged persistence more often leads to a rewarding find. I did discover a box turtle in PA. two years ago. I took a picture and let him be on his way. For incentive... see the picture below of the Pennsylvania Box Turtle. Also below are a few web addresses in your state that may give you more specific information on PA. box turtles. Good luck on such an admirable endeavor!

Ric

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/Fish/qbox.htm

http://pennsylvania.sierraclub.org/PAChapter/Issues/BoxTurtles.htm

http://www.ocasd.org/vacf/BoxTurt.htm

Pennsylvania Box Turtle

Thanks for making these excellent points... This does in fact happen with some frequency.

A couple of years ago, someone posted a harmless sounding request here, asking for advice on when and where to find box turtles.
This same person's advertisements for large quantities of wild caught box tutles for sale later showed up in several different website classified ad sections, including here on KS, complete with photos of buckets full of turtles for sale. Yes, buckets.

>>>A couple of years ago, someone posted a harmless sounding request here, asking for advice on when and where to find box turtles.
>>This same person's advertisements for large quantities of wild caught box tutles for sale later showed up in several different website classified ad sections, including here on KS, complete with photos of buckets full of turtles for sale. Yes, buckets.

That's disgusting.
Our local free advertisement newspaper has a new ad in it that I saw last week. It's a box turtle contest.
The person who year after year since the late 80s or early 90s has been advertising that he buys turtles, lizards, and snakes began running contests last year. This year the target is box turtles, whoever catches the most for him will win a prize. There is nothing that can be done about it because it's not against the law.
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PHRatz

How is it that I always find myself feeling guilty for my posts?! I feel like a real a__ for giving out that information. I guess I'm just an optimist. I really thought that I was helping. Now, I'm afraid that people are going to use that to go out and poach. I need someone to preview my posts before I put them on here...post police.

Don't feel guilty...you mean well, and you presume that the rest of the world does, too. I'm glad to know you, sir, if only via this forum.

Unfortunately, since the beginning of time, there have been plenty of unscrupulous people out there to take advantage of the good nature of others.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I contribute it mostly to zeal. I've never really been able to share my love of turtles with others. Most of my herp buddies are snake lovers, and see turtles as merely "cute". Usually, I'll talk about turtles and people give me a that puzzled look I cherish so...as if to say, "Gee, that's nice. Most people outgrow turtles when they're 5!" Then, they'll tell me how they ran over a turtle on the highway the other day. It's like someone saying, "I love bunnies." Then, you follow it with, "Yeah, I fed a bunny to my Alligator Snapping turtle the other day." It's just nice to share with like-minded people, and I tend to gush. I guess some may only pretend to be like-minded. That guy you mentioned, is he from SC?

Thank you for all of the information. I certainly hope no one would use this for purposes other than conservation and I am very sorry I asked the question here if that is what happens. I did take a course on Pennsylvania amphibians and reptiles offered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission two years ago. It was designed for teachers and it was great. In PA the possession limit for box turtles is two and it is illegal to sell them. I realize that probably doesn't stop people, but it is nice to know there are consequences.

The naturalist is purchasing equipment to microchip the turtles. I have seen this done with baby crocodiles, but not turtles. I am sure the kids and I will learn a lot through this experience.

The park where we will be working is just north of Pittsburgh, North Park. We would love to have help with the project. We are hoping to eventually see box turtles put on the threatened or endangered species list in PA and we would also like to see it become the state reptile. The nature center web site is www.latodami.org if you are interested.

Thank you for the web sites as well. I have looked at two of them before, but not in relation to box turtles.

I will let you know how things are going. We have a pet mud turtle that I have had for seventeen years now, so the kids already like turtles. I hope this will be a terrific experience for them. Thank you again for all the responses.

Barb

One reason you may not be having much luck finding any turtles (assuming that you've been out looking) is that you're pretty far north and the climate is generally colder where you are.
Box turtles in your area may not be up from hibernation just yet: I'm in central VA and all of mine aren't all fully up and about, so it may be another week or three before you see any where you live.
Good luck with your endeavors!

As for finding box turtles right now in the pittsburgh area you might have to wait a little while until it warms up. Box turtles aren't the first turtle to come out of hibernation, it has to get to at least 75 consistently before they become active. Also once temps become warm enough wait for a rainy morning they should be out looking for food(worms) and mating. Box turtles in general are kind of lazy and if it isn't raining they kind of like to stay in a small area and for lack of a better word "chill". Also based in your area box turtles may have never been plentiful there. Much of PA is semi hilly mountainous, box turtles don't always like that kind of habitat. Seldom have I found them at any high elevation. In south jersey where i live they tend to congregate around forest that contain mucky swamps and still water. If you want to email me at cjoneill12@comcast.net feel free. As for box turtles in general here are my thoughts. The area I live in in south jersey was once teeming with box turtles. My dad (in his fifties) use to tell me that boxies were as common to woods as green frogs are to a pond. I spend much time in the woods and have seen one the last two years. Unfortunatley people still think boxies are as common as anything. People that are knowledgable realize that boxies in the northeast are in serious trouble at least here in new jersey. Also I don't know if anyone else feels this way but most of the boxies I do see are ancient looking. My theory is that there are very few breeding populations of boxies out there. Most are just fragmented adults who got outcasted by housing developments. My reasoning for this is that when I was young you would find boxies in peoples backyard in suburbia where I live. They would always be adults and I would think to myself this habitat sucks why are they here. I then realized they were just relics of the woods that use to be there before the houses where built. Today I find no boxies in these backyards, sad. Also I do not have box turtles anymore, at one time in my grade school years I did, I would keep them for a month of two and then release them before fall. When I got older though I realized that they belong in the wild, and it is much more rewarding and gratifying photographing them, and watching them in there natural element. I'm not criticizing those of you who have boxies, but for those who are simply pet hobbyist, try going out into the field and observing turtles there, I think you will gain a greater appreciation of the ones you have at home, and also become better pet keepers as well. Also in a few more years the ones in your cages may be the only ones you'll be able to find. Sorry for rambling and sound like a doomsday but if you live in south jersey you would probably understand my feelings. thanks
Kensopher here are some pics you may enjoy found at my favorite trout stream, 33 found in three years, 12 trips.

Barb, congrats on the 17 year old mud turtle. I have a yellow mud who's 10 years old this year. They're great little pets.

Our tortoise is microchipped but unfortunately I didn't see it happen. She boarded with the vet while we were away last year because our fence was still under construction at the time, so the chip was implanted while we were away.
I never could see the spot where it was implanted, but it does show up when she's scanned.

Please do keep us updated on the project as you can, it sounds very interesting.
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PHRatz

>>Thanks for the words of encouragement. I contribute it mostly to zeal. I've never really been able to share my love of turtles with others. Most of my herp buddies are snake lovers, and see turtles as merely "cute". Usually, I'll talk about turtles and people give me a that puzzled look I cherish so...as if to say, "Gee, that's nice. Most people outgrow turtles when they're 5!" Then, they'll tell me how they ran over a turtle on the highway the other day. It's like someone saying, "I love bunnies." Then, you follow it with, "Yeah, I fed a bunny to my Alligator Snapping turtle the other day." It's just nice to share with like-minded people, and I tend to gush. I guess some may only pretend to be like-minded. That guy you mentioned, is he from SC?

I like your gushing. I tend to gush myself here because it is hard to meet people in person who feel the same way I do.
I know people who keep turtles but I often wonder why they do when they don't really seem to care about them.
For example the people I know who have around 30 boxies in the backyard lost their dog to old age. I saw the woman last month she told me that they've gotten a new dog that was nearly 1 year old when they got it. Then she said that dog killed one of the turtles. The 'tude was oh well..
I'd be going to pieces if that happened at my house. I can't understand the oh well, no big deal attitude.

To me they are awesome creatures. To me if you take them (or any animal) into your care & call them pet then they deserve more care than that, otherwise leave them alone!
They aren't things, they're alive but most people I meet tend to care more about their inanimate things than living beings.
So please gush on, I enjoy knowing that there are people who aren't like the ones I meet in person.
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PHRatz

Kensopher could you drop me an email at cjoneill12@comcast.net, as a former resident of south jersey I would like to share some turtle expierences. Take care
Chris

I live in SE PA and have only seen about 5 box turtles in the wild in my lifetime.Last summer I was riding my ATV alongside train tracks and I found 2 Eastern Box within 500yds of each other right next to the rail.I didn't know any better so I took them home but because they were wild they kept me up all night trying to get out of the glass aquarium.I let them go close to where I found them the next day but 2 in 1 day leads me to believe they like the sandy pebbly soil and open area along deadly traintracks to bask.