Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am a turtle/tortoise enthusiast living in northern illinois and although i don't really have the space to keep a box turtle as a pet, i would love to see and hopefully photograph some in their natural surroundings, does anyone have any advice on where i could best do this? i know they tend to like wooded areas and the areas around bog but any additional guidance would really be appreciated. thanks. ed

i would love to see and hopefully photograph some in their natural surroundings, does anyone have any advice on where i could best do this?

It really depends on what you want to see. T. carolina sounds like what you're looking for, based on your "woodland" habitat description. T. ornata is more of a prairie-dweller.

Regardless, for either species, in most cases it's hit-or-miss as far as finding them. The easiest thing to do is to drive roads in likely habitat after a rain shower. I've seen two or more turtles T. c. triunguis per mile over a many-mile stretch in central Arkansas by doing this. However, it wasn't that I was out specifically looking for them; I just happened to be driving in a good area in good conditions. I traveled that route a few times after that and saw nowhere near the same number of turtles.

I've seen quite a few T. ornata in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Missouri and Arkansas, specifically the Ozark region, seem good for T. c. triunguis.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Ed, how far north you are? why don't come to see some turtles at the nature center with the CTC members,check the url :
chicago turtle club