Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm in E. TN, and run across alot of turtles on the road. I try to pick them up and let them go on my property, if there in a bad area, or just get'um off the road if there in a good are.
Today I picked up on of the largest box turtles I've come across. When I got home, I seen were it had chew markes on all 4 legs. It looks like it is a few days old, at least. The front legs are the worst, they have cuts on the front, lower part. The backs are not as bad, and look like it is cut at the joint. Basiclly, the area's that would be exposed if it was drawed up in it's shell.
I washed it in warm water, and put paroxid on the cuts with a Q-tip. I am going to wash it again, and do the peroxid, then neosporn on it.
I am trying to find if there is a rehab place near by. (Knoxville)
I have alot of herps right now, that take alot of time. I dont want this turtle to give anything to my turtles or snakes, so I have it isolated. I dont want to just set it out in the back 40 without trying to get it healed up either.
Any advice on gett'in it squared up would be greatly appreteated
Thanks,
Doug

Sounds like you're doing a great job. There's not a whole lot you can do except keep the wounds clean and well coated with Neosporin.
I looked around for herp vets in TN so try this link (below), or contact your usual vet, who should be able to help you find a rehabber.
You're doing well.
Made sure it has access to water, and give it some food regularly (worms, berries, slugs, mushrooms).
Good luck with it,
Stephanie
Link

Thank you,
I havent found a rehabber yet, but, I think the couple days od treatment have helped. I'm thinking I'll keep cleaning, and putting neosporne on the cuts for another week, then let it go out back.
Thanks again,
Doug

"I try to pick them up and let them go on my property, if there in a bad area, or just get'um off the road if there in a good are."

Doug, I hate to sound like I'm scolding you but I wonder if you're actually helping these guys out when you take them back to your property and release them. The reason I say this is because box turtles are pretty much homebodies and everything I've ever read says they will start trying to get home. So if you're taking them out of their home territory, you may be causing them problems.

Do any of you other people have ideas on this?

I understand what you mean, though. I've often seen turtles in really bad settings. I've rescued more than one from kids in housing projects and similar settings where the turtle was basically DOWNTOWN and you wonder how in the world they got there. In those cases, I usually wound relocating the turtle to my farm and they're still here. I keep records on where all of my turtles were found and sure enough: in the spring whenever they come out of brumation they tend to move in the compass direction of where they were found, trying to climb the wall of the enclosure on that side. If I pick them up, put them all in a 'pile', they take off- in the same direction every time. It's sort of heart-wrenching actually. They do seem to calm down after a couple of weeks, though and become content to be where they are.

In short, I'm just saying -and I'm sure you know this already- please be very reluctant about rescuing turtles to the extent you remove them from their home territory altogether. I understand that it's often necessary, though as development continues to encroach on the natural environment.

P.S. Where in TN do you live? I live in south Alabama and go through Chattanooga quite often.

Charles