Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I saw such a strange sight this past Monday I had to tell you all about it. Temperatures here in southwestern Missouri have been in the upper 50s and sunny for a few days. I was driving by a river where a lot of water turtles can be seen sunning on logs during the spring and summer. When I looked over at the log as I was driving by, I was very surprised to see three turtles sunning on the log...in late December!!! I wish I had had a camera. Couldn't help but wonder what that meant for hibernating box turtles in the wild. We're due for a big freeze in a few days. My own box turtles are safe indoors, in semi-hibernation mode.

I'm glad you mentioned this, because I found one of my Easterns out last week, after mild temperatures and some rain, so I had to tuck him back in. He hadn't found adequate cover on his own, and was trying to dig into some heavy clay; now he's back under the leaf-and-loam pile.
Here in central Virginia its been fairly mild during the day but quite cold at night, so I've been checking the turtle enclosure alot more than I had anticipated.
Stephanie

Everyone who has box turtles hibernating outdoors need to check their pens if the weather has been unusually mild for the past week: today the temps here hit 70 degrees (a record for the date), and my turtle pen has got fresh clover throughout! I looked it over in case I missed any hatchlings, but didn't find anything.

My box turtles are safe form the cold because i hibernate them under ground. I read that they like to hibernate in old rabbit burrows so thats what i dug for them. Once they go down the burrow in Nov i cover the burrow entrence with boards so taht nothing else trys to use it. Then i cover that with lots of leaves for insulation. This seems to work well. Deep under ground and coverd with leaves for insulation i dont think the turtles can tell ifs its 50 degress or 10 degress out side. This works great for me and come spring i uncove the burrow entrence and when they are ready they climb out on there own. Last winter was the coldest in many years here in NJ and they came out of hibernation in great shape.
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Jack

I'm in South Carolina and it's been above70 degrees.I've seen many sliders and painteds out.I already put my one year old boxies in a hibernation box.I hope they will be all right.They weren't very heavy when I put them in ,so I don't want them to lose much weight.At least this weather has been good for my Sulcatas.They are enjoying the afternoon outdoors.