Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm pretty tired and my back hurts!
I just spent a good hour digging out the two hibernacula here: the soil settles over the spring and summer months, and roots grow through, so I re-dig them every fall, get rid of the roots, and mix in a fresh batch of leaves so that its easy for the turtles to burrow into.
It was kindof funny this time, because I had an audience: one of the turtles watched me the whole time, and apparently agreed with my decision that it was ready enough, because she climbed right on in when I finished.
We have our first frost warning of the season for tonight, so I was gla to be able to get this phase done today.

I did the same thing for my turtles on Tuesday. The roots do grow a lot in one year. And i also had one watch me. She did climb into the pile to check it out but this morning I found her in one of the corners, under some leaves. Tonight we might also have a frost so I piled on extra leaves on top of her. My turtles here in NJ usualy don't go into hibernation till the end of October.
-----
Jack

Mine don't really go into hibernation until November here in central VA. Even though I had prepped the hibernacula, a few of them spent the night elsewhere, which wasn't unusual.
You know how it is...if you don't get things ready early, its hard to find the time as the weather gets colder and colder.
Aside from the root issue, I must say it does get a little easier to do as the years go by, since the soil in the 'dens' is so amended by now its fairly loose. The first year was a bear because I had to start frm scratch and amend heavy clay, so I really shouldn't complain any more.
I'm glad its done, and I have one less thing to think about.

Oy sounds like a tough job!
Hope your back is better today.
Isn't it fun when they watch you & figure out what you're doing?
-----
PHRatz

Yeah, it was pretty funny to watch her watching me...I started talking to her after I noticed she was watching me: good thing one of my neighbors wasn't passing by at that point or they would think I'd really and truly lost my mind.

Its a relief to know that one chore is finished, since I have so many hatchlings this year and they take up a good chunk of my time.

I feel your pain. That cold snap really snuck up on us. I found myself running out to Lowes to buy pine needles. Normally, I drive around my neighborhood with my truck and steal peoples' nicely bagged leaves. The leaves hadn't even begun to fall yet! My turtles had no substantial protection. Luckily, it didn't quite freeze...33 was the lowest...whew, close one.

A hot bath with 4 handfulls of Epsom salt...you'll feel like a rubber band. You're probably better by now, though.

I am pretty much recovered by now, thanks.
It's sad when we have to resort to buying pine needles! I end up raking my neighbors' leaves, too, because I never have enough from my own yard. Thank goodness their maple sheds pretty reliably in early October, so I had something to work with.

I use a custom made hibernation box year after year. It saves on the backaches, at least in the fall. My back gets plenty of workout every spring when I prepare the pens for the awakening turtles.

The large wooden box has room for 2 layers of large plastic sweater boxes. I fill each with damp spaghnam moss about 4-5 inches deep. A turtle or 2 are placed in each box. The wooden box has 2 small light bulbs attached to the top and are connected to a thermostat. The lights come on whenever the workshop temps goes down to 45 degrees. This type of hibernation box would work in a garage, crawl space or attic. Any place that gets cold and has access to electricity.
-----
Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

Well, here's a bad pic...I'll get a better one this fall

-----
Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

That's a great idea! That would work well for alot of people, no doubt.

I don't think it would work for me here though, since I don't have an unheated space that gets cool enough, and I wouldn't have the room anyway.