Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just found a large male easter box trutle by the side of the road. I stopped to help it because the area has been built up and it was stuck trying to get over a curb. Unfortunely it was injured buy either a car or a animal. The top of the shell was not damaged and the underside was only scraped a litte. How ever its left rear legg was missing and small amount of blood was still coming out. I have seen three legged box turtles before so im hopeing it can survive this injury. Im not sure if it could ever mate again with on of his back leggs missing. Its a shame because he is a very large beautful turle. Does any one know of any treatmet to help with the healing of this type of injury?

Jack
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Jack

Gentle cleaning, sterile environment, steady diet (protein, calcium, and vitamin food sprays a must for healing), and anti-bacterial ointment. You could always bring it to the vet, but no one is required to spend that kind of money. Just give it your best shot and see if nature is on your side.

If it recovers and you want to release it into the wild, make sure to do careful and thoughtful research about it's new habitat. I'm assuming, of course, that you will get it out of that newly-developed neighborhood where it was hit. Don't bring it miles and miles away--it is always good to resist mixing otherwise isolated populations of a species--but far enough where it can live a decent existence without fear of cars.

Actually releasing this turtle is not a wise idea at all.. if it was found in an area not suitable for permanent home, it may not be a wild turtle. And if it is, releasing it away from it's natural habitat will not help it.

Box turtles have built in homing instincts and a developed "home range" or area where they identify as "home" this may be as small an area as a football field or may be thousands of acres in size. However, if a turtle is displaced from his home, he will recognize it's not home and will spend the rest of his life searching to find the area he knows.

Releasing a box turtle away from it's natural habitat where it was found is probably not much better than letting him go where you found him.

To care for him- clean the wound with warm water... then let him soak 1-2 hours a day in water with betadine in it (get it at the local drugstore)... mix it to the color of tea. Then dress the wound with neosporin or similar ointment. he should heal up pretty well if you keep him warm and slightly humid. get him to eat worms, bananas (go easy on these) and fresh fruits.. maybe even some hamburger (again only a little)... he'll avoid commercial foods unless he's a pet.. so save your $$

And I'll offer to provide him a permanent home. I have a rescue for box turtles that can no longer live in the wild. They live and breed in a natural habitat living outside year round with minimal human interaction. Offspring are being saved for eventual release into the wild on a selected site that's monitored. The study is attempting to determine if captive bred offspring can successfully be intorduced into the wild.

If you'd like to discuss further care, and rehabilitation, I'll be glad to help.

I would advise contacting a wildlife rehabber: ask a local vet for a number you can call for that area.
Here in Virginia it is illegal to try to care for injured or sick wildlife unless you are a rehabber. I found this all out last fall when a co-worker brought me an eastern with a recently gnawed off rear foot.
I also agree with the other post that said it would be a bad idea to release it in a different area from where you found it. You did the right thing by picking it up, and they do heal nicely, given time, and the breeding question is a valid one, although I wouldn't count him out just yet...

Thanks everyone for the adviece. The bleeding has stoped and i have twice but on Neosporin on the wound. I tried to feed him worms and cantalope but so far he has not eaten any thing. He did take a very long drink ( 10 Min ) form his warter dish althought he did not get inside it to soak. After a close examation to day of his wound i dont think he was hit by a car. There is no marks on the top of his shell and the small scrapes on the bottom might have been caused by him trying to climb over the concreat curb. There is nothing left of his left rear legg jsut a little stump but at least the bleaing has stopped. My guess is that some kind of wild animal or a dog or cat chewded it off.
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Jack

Very possible...

Cats, dogs, and racoons are all known to gnaw on turtles legs....

good job keeping him healthy and happy.. he'll eat.. you may have to give him a few days... most turtles won't eat every day a first.. and most can go up to a MONTH without eating a thing and still be just fine... so don't worry or frustrate yourself too much!

Good luck!

still has not eaten but soaked in its water dish for like a hour yesterday. will try to give him a worm today.
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Jack

if he has open wounds, I would NOT let him soak for long periods. You can keep him in a humid environment, but pretty dry, and soak him for 30 mins each day. Leaving the wounds soaking in water could lead to trouble if he's doing it regularly, though.

I guess the turtle know best because she ( i think she is a she ) jsut shoaks for like half hour then climbs out of here water dish. But i have noticed that she seems to be drinking a lot she puts her head under the water for like 5 mins at a time. the fist time i saw this she was not in the dish but jsut stuck her long neck inside with her head under water. Then i saw her inside the water dish with her head down and at firts it look like she had died but in a few min she brought her head back up. I am hoping that she has already laid here eggs for this year. She is one of the largest box turles i have seen, and im sure when she lays eggs its more then the average.
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Jack