Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
I have been searching and searching to find the story of the "Blazebacks" Terrapene c.carolina.
Here is what I have been told so far:
"There are 13 fires on a Blazeback come Fall,this is how the Indians kept warm here;they gathered the fires when they scraped off his shell as he entered his Winter den."
"The blaze back story is an ancient one. They use to be all black till an Indian who kept them was burnt out of his wigwam.Some of his turtles made it through but carry the flames still to this day on their backs. Summer renews the 13 fires each year and in Autumn when they enter their Winter dens the fires scrape off.The Indians here gathered them and used them the coldest 13 wks. of the coming Winter. The Indian did well later as he grew older.He became a brave !st..Brave Black Turtle Was his name as he took it from his childhood pets.Later his name was changed to War Paint Turtle and his title also.

I would like to read the whole tale.

Best wishes
Søe

That sounds like a charming story...I have never heard of it until you posted your message.

I have looked since you posted this, but I can't find it and am not familiar with it either. Turtles are in many Indian legends, from creation to moral fables. If you know which tribe the story came from it would be easier to find it. If I locate it I'll post it.

Hi
The "Blazebacks" should come from Hawkins county Tennessee or at least very near to that.
I would like to see a photo of an adult "blazeback" if anyone has been there. It is a tale like many others, but charming and who knows Maybe they do change color from winter to summer. I would have said absolutely NO a year ago, BUT I found out that it is possible for another turtle. The european pond turtle can change it color on the back as juvenile. Pretty fast too. According to the conditions it can turn very very dark almost black or very brightly colored

These are from the same clutch but kept 4 month under different conditions.
Best wishes
Søe

This link is to a picture called Fire Turtle done by a Cherokee Indian artist Dorthy Sullivan. They originally lived in the mid- atlantic states that probably included Tennessee.

There was a book written by Joseph Bruchac, called Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: a Native American year of moons. It is a collection of poems for children.

here is the link
http://www.ndnartgallery.com/item263.htm

The only changes that I've noticed in box turtle shells are that the collors become more vibrant as they mature from hatchling to sub adult, and that their shells become smooth as they age as adults.