Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I am unsure what to do right now. My elderly neighbor found a box turtle in his yard and was nice enough to put it in one of my enclosures on my deck while I was at work yesterday. He thought one of my tortoises got out! So thats the funny part.

Now I am not sure what to do with this turtle (Eastern found in Connecticut suburbia). My first thought was to take it down the road about a mile and let it go in some woodland/wetlands. I dont think letting it go back in my neighbors yard is the right thing to do. It is in the middle of suburbia, surrounded by oodles of solid fencing and busy roads.

But it gets worse... now I am not so sure how wild this turtle is. Its back claws are much longer than I would think a wild box turtle should have. I can take pics if anyone needs to see them. I wonder if someone kept him and either let him go or he got away...

Sooooo, here I have a box turtle, not sure if wild or not. I dont want to put a captive turtle back into the wild. I dont want to relocate a wild box to an area it is unfamiliar with. I dont want to keep it LOL.

It is not shy at all and only goes into its shell for a split second and pops back out. When picked up he lets all his legs hang out. Not sure if this is typical of a wild box or not. I do not have much experience with wild boxies. Also he cannot shut his shell all the way so I think he is a bit overweight... leading me to believe he is not wild much at all.

So any suggestions?

Thanks,
Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

Carol,
Not sure I have any good advise, you seem to be in quite a quandary, and have certainly considered both aspects of your potiential actions already, a picture might be helpful to make a guess as to if it is wild caught or captive born and captive raised, but even a wild caught could be a long term captive and not a good canidate for releasing, sorry no helpful advise from me, hopefully others will have oppinions and/or advise. Hey, I checked out your web site and saw that you raise diamondacks, me too, send me an email if you want to talk diamonds.
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Jeff Benfer
1.0 cinnamon pastel Python regius
1.0 pastel Python regius
1.1 mojave Python regius
0.1 normal Python regius
1.3 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
4.1 Kinosternon baurii
1.1 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.2 double het albino and anerythristicThamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
2.3 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
0.2 het Christmas albino Thamnophis radix
1.1 double het cherry erythristic, albino Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 melanistic Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
2.0 66% het snow Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
1.1 triple heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 butter p.h. stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 carmel stripe p.h. amel Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 amelanistic p.h. carmel,stripe Pantherophis guttatus

What are the regulations in your state? If it is legal to own an Eastern BT perhaps someone lost a beloved pet and a call to the local pound may have him already listed as a lost pet. I would not advertise in the paper-I did that for a lost dog once and got kooks calling me at all hours.

Releasing it into the wild at this point is not wise since you don't its history. If it is legal to own box turtles-you can find a new home for it via an adoption network. If illegal to own-take the turtle to a wildlife rehabber and they can decide its fate. Perhaps there is a nature facilty that could use it in a display or at a preserve or small zoo. Good luck! Tess

A rehabber would be a good idea. I agree with what's been said. I just wanted to add, I would think hibernation is coming soon in CT, so you might what to make a decision quickly. Let us know what you decide. Any pics?