Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Would it be ok to hibernate Eastern boxies outside in their pen, or would it be better to bring them inside. Turtles are very healthy, and pen is protected by 3 concrete walls, and an overhang that protects a third of the pen on top.

I hibernate my box turtles outside in NJ every winter and have never had a problem. I read that they like to hibernate undergrund in old rabbit burrows. What i did was dig a burrow of my own with a shovel. I used a trenching shovel which makes a smaller hole then a regular garden shovel. I dug it at a 60 degree angle and as deep as the shovel will go ( over 3 feet ). The dirt form the hole I mound up around the outside of the hole so that if we get lots of rain the water will not run into the hole. During the summer I keep the burrow coved with boards so that the turtles do not go into it. Around the middle of October I uncover the burrow. Every year with in 2 or 3 days of Nov 1st the male will climb down to the bottom of the burro. the burrow is very steep but the box turles have no problem climbing up or down. The Female I have to give her a little push to get moving down the burrow. After they are down i cover the entrance with boards so that no other animals try to use the burrow. I then cover the whole area with lots of leaves ( like 2 to 3 ) feet. the leaves act as insulation and also shead rain and snow water away form the hole. The turtles are now set for the winter. Come April when things are starting to warm up i remove the leaves so that the sun will reach down into the burrow. When i do this i always find the female at the top and under the boards and leaves. I dont know when she got there, If she just climbed there or has spent most of the winter at the top under the boards and leaves. Because I am not sure were she spends the winter i always make sure that there are lots of leaves on top. The burrow is to deep for me to reach in and pull the turles from the bottom so they have to climb out on here own. Over the years leavs have fallen into the burrow and i can not see the turtles at the bottom. My male does not come up untill some time in May. Each year I start to worry that he did not make it, but he always shows up. The last 2 winters have been extra cool with freezing temptures for weeks on end but the turtles have always come through in great shape.
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Jack