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This little hatchling T. C. Carolina was photographed exactly as it was found in a mountain stream in Central Pennsylvania, emphasising the fact that these animals are extreme damp habitat dwellers, especially when young. Thanks, Leo

Skin & Scales

The habitat, the geography, the weather...all combine for a VERY RARE find!! Congratulations! Box turtles are not thought of as abundant in PA. I would spend entire summers herping in PA, and I only found a small handful of box turtles. Also, they were only in one isolated area. I am of the opinion that Bog turtles are more numerous than Box turtles in PA. Great pic, great find! Thanks!

Hey Ken ~ Thanks for the reply. Yes, I was quite surprised to find this hatchling (especially sitting on a stone in the middle of a mountain stream!) I have found TONS of Eastern Box turtles in PA (i'll start posting some pix) i've found quite a few hatchling Spotted Turtles in Massachusetts over the past several years, so maybe I just happened to notice its small size where normally it may be overlooked.
Are you from Pennsylvania? If your ever interested in doing some field stuff, I do several trips down there a year and could show you some good Box Turtle hunting spots. If you get a chance, go by my website, theres alot of PA critters on there (mostly venomous snakes) Anyway, check out the pix when I post them. Thanks, Leo
Skin & Scales

Thanks for the offer Leo. I herp PA several times a year. I'm originally from NJ, but my inlaws live in PA. I used to trout fish quite a bit in PA while living in NJ, and was able to spend a lot of time herping. Also, my Grandparents owned a trailer in the Poconos. I would spend entire summers chasing Red efts, Garter Snakes, and Wood frogs. I have yet to see a Pocono Box turtle. I'm glad to hear that you still find them plentiful in PA. If I were you, I'd guard that information very diligently. There are, unfortunately, some people on this forum that would exploit this information. Be careful!

What a site! I'll have to set some time aside to cruise around there. You have packed in a lot of material!

I'll watch for those pics. Thanks, Ken

Thanks for the offer Leo. I herp PA several times a year. I'm originally from NJ, but my inlaws live in PA. I used to trout fish quite a bit in PA while living in NJ, and was able to spend a lot of time herping. Also, my Grandparents owned a trailer in the Poconos. I would spend entire summers chasing Red efts, Garter Snakes, and Wood frogs. I have yet to see a Pocono Box turtle. I'm glad to hear that you still find them plentiful in PA. If I were you, I'd guard that information very diligently. There are, unfortunately, some people on this forum that would exploit this information. Be careful!

What a site! I'll have to set some time aside to cruise around there. You have packed in a lot of material!

I'll watch for those pics. Thanks, Ken

Good to know someone else enjoys the vast PA woodlands, I rarely see other humans out there! Also good to meet someone that appreciates the classics i.e., Garters, Wood Frogs, Red Spotted Newts etc, etc! Actually I recently caught a beautiful Wood Frog in Mass., its a nice pastel orange and when its unhappy its an intense deep orange. I love these frogs.
Anyway, yes, i've been around the block a few times and can usually make a good judgement call on who has good or bad intentions in the forest. I'm quite careful with whom I share locations with (I don't even put specifics on my website) ~ you come across as a man with a solid foot on whats right & not. Besides if I get a feel that i'm wrong about you, we just won't happen to be able to find anything lol Thanks, Leo
Skin & Scales