Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We recently moved our family and four box turtles from Oklahoma to Alabama. Since moving here we have faced several problems. We have yet to get a fence around our backyard so the three-toed box turtles are having to live in a pen (suitably sized with good amenities). In Oklahoma they were used to sandy dirt which was easy to dig making hibernation natural and easy. Here we have clay which they cannot dig. I was able to get field hay to put into their pen for them to burrow into at night which they adapted well to during the warmer months. They have three other shelters they occasionally use too. My problem is hibernation. By this time in Oklahoma they were deep underground asleep. We dug a hole in the pen removing clay in a 4'x4'4' hole and put back topsoil and peat moss hoping they would use this to burrow. So far they have not caught on to do this. Three have quit eating two weeks ago indicating preparation for hibernation. Luckily, the real cold weather is yet to come here in Alabama. They are in good heath and good have a good weight. Two sucessfully hibernated last year without problems. One is a rescue from a car accident in March 2003, well recovered but some nerve damage. The third is a very old and big three toe female who did not hibranate last year (and is the one still wanting to eat). I believe something needs to be done otherwise the opportunity will pass and I will be caring for four turtles in my garage all winter (not so healthy). Advice and thoughts would be appreciated. If you need pictures or more information, let me know.

I have Easterns, so I can't really comment on 3-toed behaviors & habits, but I did have to create a hibernaculum from scratch, and since mine are wild rescues (from a construction site), it did take some of them a while to acclimate to new surroundings.
Here are some thoughts:
They may not have familiarized with their new surroundings yet.
Daytime temps may still be high enough for them to delay burrowing.
If they are not very active, don't worry too much about them not eating, especially at this time of year. Mine stopped eating several weeks ago, but only really started burrowing a couple of days ago, and I'm farther north in VA.
You may want to consider making your own sandy soil: try finding a garden center that sells organic topsoil (no added fertilizers or chemicals), and sand. Mixing roughly two parts soil with one part sand should put you in the neighborhood of what they need, but you'd be a better judge.
Devise some sort of mostly above ground, bottomless stall or bin, put the soil/sand in it, and see if the turts find that more like what their used to. Maybe something along the lines of a 3-sided compost bin design...
Above all else, beware the "Bathtub Effect" when digging in clay. Since clay doesn't drain well, holes dug in it tend to just fill with water, which could be fatal to a hibernating turtle.
Consider having other mounded areas for them to use when spring arrives: you could make more sandy soil, and get some great ornamental grasses on sale this time of year, and plant up a miniature prairie for them. This is a great time of year to plant, and plants are on sale 'coz nurseries don't want to maintain them over the winter.
Regards
Stephanie

Thank you for some very good ideas. My instincts say that you are probably right.

As to the Bathtub Effect, we did address this when making the hole. We put a retaining wall up on the high side of the hole as well as extending it beyond either side. Still I can see that water settling could still be a deadly risk.

I am still be open to other ideas and thoughts that anyone would have.