Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have kept wild boxies when I was younger. I let some go. I kept some for years. I am totally against it now. However, if someone finds a boxie crossing the street in a bad area area for boxies I will not kill them for it.
I don't take wild boxies because I have killed so many things in my life. I have commited random acts of violence on people, and everything under the sun that is illegal. So when I see a box turtle, or snake or any other animal in the road, I will go out of my way and even be late to work to make sure that animal is put in a safe wooded area. This is the only way I feel i can repay for all the things I have done. That is why I am not coming down on boxie bro. I have done things way worse than keeping a wild turtle.
I got off on a tangent.
I can remember being around 5 and riding down this street with my grandmom. Shi had a basket on her bike. We would find boxies crossing this street and take them to her house. We we wlould let them go at the end of the summer. It ould be 3-6 of them Some I kept for years. Most I let go every summer.
You cannot find a box turtle in that woods any more. I don't think it was because of me and my grandmom. Box turtles are Illegal in NJ. there is not really alot of people who have them here. I am the only one I know.
A big factor was the boxies would try to cross the street but once the dropped offf of the curb they could not climb up the other side. It was like half a mile to the nearest house so they would get run over because they were stuck in the street or fall in the sewer.
Has anyone else seen a situation like this before?

Eastern Box turtles (and others of course) were collected and exported by the tens of thousands in the late 80's early 90's, and NYC was probably one of the major points from which they were exported.
It wouldn't surprise me if the surrounding areas were effectively stripped of box turtles for international trade. Between that, suburban sprawl and all that comes with it, low reproductive rates, and so on and so forth, its no wonder you don't see them any more in your area.
Yes, its sickening.

it isn't near impossibl to get a good population started? I would think so. You would have them inbreeding in a few generations unless you put alot there.

Phishnuts I totally understand what your talking about. I live in new jersey and when I was young I would see box turtles quite frequently. Always in areas with very small stretches of woods. I remember about three locations where there was box turtles and I was always suprised to see them there but very happy at the same time. Also I live near cherry hill, nj and I use to have box turtles around my neighborhood(see them during rain storms). I don't see many at all anymore. The only place I have seen boxies are in the pine barrens. But as for seeing box turtles in more residential areas-no, its ashame but i guess inevitable with a growing population. I don't know if this is the case in areas besides jersey, and that is why i was critical of the guy on the faunaclassifieds because i know how rare wild populations of boxies are around here.

I drive several hours (4 1/2) to the pine barrens to release some my hatchlings. Won't announce on the net of exactly where. Maybe you've seen some of them? (I really hope so)

Wouldn't that be terrific!! It's too bad there isn't a way to note identifying marks (or something to that effect) on tiny hatchlings, since the patterns evolve so dramatically as they grow. I try to carry a camera with me when I'm walking or cycling, in and around less populated areas, so that I photograph any turtles I see on the off-chance that I may come across them again.
I'd sure like to think that some of your little guys are making it to adulthood....

Stephanie

I am so inclined as to "etch" a slight mark on them. But don't because I do not want to put them into shock being that they are only a day old. If you ever go to that area - just remember - There were about 3 dozen hatchlings released by yours truly over an 9 year span. Not much if you average it out - But then there were years where I had no hatchlings from the adults taken from that general area & some years more. It sometimes hurt to release them because I know, in reality, maybe one will survive to breed. The others are taken by other animals & of course - other people which I can't do anything about. It's really sad to leave them. I watch them "disappear into & under places of hide", then I leave with a lump in my gut.

Part of me thinks that, simply by having the eggs hatch, one is already improving their odds of survival. Since the mortality rate is so high (something like 95%), any improvement could prove to be significant. Good for you.
We lived in Bucks Co. PA when I was a kid, and drove through the area you mentioned on the way to the beach in the summertime. Not called 'barrens' for nothing!
Stephanie

You can mark turtles so that you can identify them at a latter time. Take a not too large file and u can file notches in the side of the shell were there is an overhang by there legs. I have read that one person who has a lager estate on Long Island NY has done this and they can tell what turtle it is many years latter. I read that they were original carving numbers into the shell to identify the turtles. But now they just notch them. Of course you have to keep a record of were and how many notches you make in any one turtle to identify it latter.
-----
Jack

In regards to what you read, were they referring to adult turtles that were being notched or does that also include a one day old hatchlings? I'm just worried it might be just a little too much for a hatchling to take. Thanks.

I agree with you turtle 88.
The outside of a turtle shell is really it's fused ribs. Marking a hatchling would be so tramatic ; it chances of survival would be greatly lessened. The bone is still so soft; and infection can easily set in...let alone cause it to leave a scent for predators when it is still very susceptable.
Those marked on the Long Island Estate were older well established specimens.
All opinions are appreciated!
Ric

The guy you are talking about posts here as "skycock". he is the one with the add that you are speaking of. Where do you live in NJ?

I live in NJ to. I dont think things are as bad as you are making them out to be. For sure deveolpement is distroying the box turtles habatate. But i have see and other people are telling me they still see box turles crossing the roads. I have also come across turtles that were traped by the curb. There are still boxes turtles in NJ but im not sure if in 100 or 200 years there will be many box turtles in NJ To many roads new houses and just to many people. Box turtles were just not made to compeate with us. There are relatively lager wildlife areas in NJ that are protected form developement. If any are to survive it will be in these areas only. For a short peroid of time box turtles could survive in a small area. But for the long time, 1000 or 2000 years they need a large area that has more then just a few box turtles to survive.
-----
Jack

I talked to an old guy that lives on the border of the woods he has not seen a boxies in years. They are gone. There is one place to see them in my area. Maybe you live in a better place than me. But it is that bad where I live.

FYI, I believe in NJ you can have a box turtle, but you have to get a permit from your state wildlife agency, and have proof that you didn't take it from the wild in NJ (proof of puchase, adoption contract, ect.).

Katrina

A friend and I spent several days last week herping in the Pine Barrens. We saw at least a dozen box turtles. Actually they were the most common herp we saw except for Terrapins. Being from Maine we just assumed box turtles were common since we seemed to run into them so often.

I agree box turtles are plentiful within the pine barrens. However I remember when I was younger box turtles where also plentiful in areas besides the pine barrens such as residential neighbor heoods, soccer fields, etc. I just feel like I don't see box turtles in these places, or a least as much as I used to. Guess it was inevitable

I was wondering if it was common to collect them in New Jersey. When we first arrived we went to the supermarket in Tuckerton and about 500 yds. from the store we noticed a box turtle starting to cross the road. Since this was the first one we saw we pulled over and started getting our cameras out etc. A gal about 30 pulls up behind us and picks up the turtle and takes off with it. I'ld like to think she was saving it from us, because she wouldn't know our intentions. She had NJ plates so we figured she must see them all the time. I guess we were wrong.