Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My parents in Oklahoma City told me they had two turtles mating in their yard yesterday morning (They have several ornates in the area, and I'll assume that's what these were). Is it possible the eggs will overwinter? I can't remember if box turtles would lay the eggs or store the sperm until spring.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Your parents could have had ornates or three toed box turtles. Both species will mate until fall hits, possibly into October. But usually the last eggs are laid no later than July, although I had a neighbor who had a turtle lay some last August. That turtle didn't bury the eggs, the neighbor brought the surviving egg for me to incubate and as I suspected it ended up being infertile. Late august is when the ovulation cycle in the female starts preparing eggs for next spring and yes, box turtles can store sperm.

>>Your parents could have had ornates or three toed box turtles.

They could very well be three-toes. I've SEEN ornates in their yard, but wasn't sure whether three-toes were found there (Wheatland, specifically). My dad's description sounds like they were three-toes.

I knew box turtles could store sperm, I wasn't sure if they'd store it or go ahead and lay eggs this time of year. Sounds like some do but it's a case of natural selection at work.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

i live in northern WV and had an unusually harsh winter last year. In the spring, after the adult box turtles had been up for a few days i was in their enclosure digging around and found 4 newly hatched babies who had obviously over-wintered in their eggs. their yolks sacs were gone and they were almost completely healed up, although they were just hatching. so i know its possible for them to do so successfully, and the little guys are doing just fine.