Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in south-east NC. and I think I found a baby box turtle in my yard a few days ago (maybe a tad bigger than a quarter). Almost ran him/her over with my riding lawn mower (my property borders a swamp/bog). I'm not a turtle expert, I'm mainly into kingsnakes, but I was wondering if anyone had any pics of the belly of a baby eastern box turtle (this one has a black pattern covering the center especially). Is it also true that baby box turtles cannot completely fit/hide in their shells until they get a little older? The one I have fits the description (dorsally with a ridge in the center and a light spot on each scute), but I just want to make sure. My (14yr old) son wants to keep it for a pet...Thanks for reading...

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

Sounds like you have a Spotted Turtle to me. You may want to release it if so. A lot of states have strict laws about not collecting wild Spotteds because of their vulnerable state. Does it look like this?

Browse through the gallery: there are pics of eastern hatchlings there.

I think you may have one. I'll send a big file directly to you for you to compare. Please read the diet section of the breeding chapter as sometime baby turtles are fed improperly and they can have deformed shells. www.boxturtlesite.info/bxbook.html
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Tess
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