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I'm hibernating two box turtles outside this year and both aren't that deep at all. Maybe just six inches under some leaves. This past week the male was up above the surface twice. Are anyone else box turtles in new jersey not hibernating yet?

I live in central jersey and all my adult, junival and hatchling box turtles have all gone into hibernation about 2 weeks now. I think I saw the last of them out about 10 days ago. I have been doing this for about 7 years now so I don’t worry so much any more. I have never lost a turtel over the winter. I will pile on lots of leaves as the weather gets colder and the leaves fall down. This year in central NJ the leaves are staying on the tree 2-3 weeks longer then in past years.
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Jack

I am also in central NJ, and my experience parallels Jacks. You can add more leaves (oak works great as they don't pack down) with time. They should be fine!

How high do you stack the leaves. I built a trench that goes to 2 feet. The male just refuses to go in it, he will only stay around the perimeter where the soil is harder. I have about 20 inchess of leaves on top right now. The male is still moving around during the day about six inches under the leaves.

I have also dug a whole about 2 feet deep and then filled it with soft compost soil. Each fall I have to re-dig this because roots will grow into this area. After I have dug out the roots, I backfill it again with soft compost and pile it into a pyramid on top, which is maybe a foot or so high. I then put some leaves on top. I will remove any of the other hiding places the turtles have so this is the only place they can go. And when they are ready they dig right in. I also have a second method of hibernating my turtles. I once read that box turtles like to hibernate in old rabbit burrows. So I dug a rabbit burrow of my own. Its goes down at about a 45 degree angle and I dug it as deep as I could get using a trenching shovel. It must go in at least 6 or 7 feet. You can not see to the bottom any more because leaves have fallen in. Mr. T my male seems to always hibernate here. I have now covered the entrance with pine boards and cover them with leaves. In the spring I will remove the boards and he will climb out when he is ready. Both places the turtles hibernate I will pile on at least 3 feet of leaves. This helps keep them warm in the winter, shed water, and it also keeps the ground cold incase we get a warm spell before spring.
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Jack

I'm also in central/south jersey, all but one of mine are down. My old girl is always last down, first up. I usualy keep an eye on her and when the temps are consistantly below 40 I put her in a burrow I dug and cover with leaves. Usually after the 3rd or 4th time of her coming back up she stays until spring. She does come up fairly close to the surface and stays there.(6-8 inches) The tunnel itself is about 2 feet deep. I always worry about her and she always is first out in the spring. I collect leaves to lay thick over the best sites for hibernating(logs, large stones etc) I've noticed most will dig under logs etc. I've been doing this for quite a few years now and haven't lost any over winter.
In the past I have seen wild turtles out and about mid december during warm spells. (I'm in northern ocean county)

Phil

Phil, just saw this, thanks. Sounds like your female displays similar behaviors to mine. I'm going to try to put some logs in there for them to get under. Thanks
Chris