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While caretaking a yard at an empty home (developed neighborhood) we came across what we believe is a three-toed box turtle. Our desire would first be to return her to her natural habitat -- however I first want to make sure they are native to Eastern Washington.

The information I see on the internet says she should be in the south central states. Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks so much.

>>While caretaking a yard at an empty home (developed neighborhood) we came across what we believe is a three-toed box turtle. Our desire would first be to return her to her natural habitat -- however I first want to make sure they are native to Eastern Washington.
>>
>>The information I see on the internet says she should be in the south central states. Can anyone enlighten me?
>>
>>Thanks so much.

The information you are finding is correct. They are native to south central states so it sounds like who ever left that home empty abandoned their pet turtle. This one needs to be taken in to someone else's home as a pet, it can't spend a winter outside alone, it won't make it. If you don't want to do that yourself or don't know where to send it, you may be able to get some help from a herp society in your state.
Here's a url that will take you to a list of rescues/societies in WA state:
http://www.anapsid.org/societies/washington.html

If that doesn't help you could contact your local vets especially any who may advertise themselves as reptile vets. A vet may want the turtle or may be able to get you into contact with someone who would want it.

Good luck! If you want to keep this turtle yourself I know there are lots of people here on this message board who'll help you out by answering all your questions about their care.
Let us know what happens!
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PHRatz

To further instill, please, do not consider letting this animal go even if you can find someone in the native range to do so.

Thousands of these critters still wind up in the pet trade every year and doubtless that is how this one found its way to a Washington lawn. Captivity can induce the development of many strange pathogens in turtles, and it is just not safe to release them once they've been made prone to this factor. Multiple populations of wild turtles have fallen victim to the release of former pets.

As i've heard you mention before, many species of turtle (including the Box Turtles) have a natural homeing instinct. In other words, displaced Box turtles have an inborne need to find their way home. in the wild, Box turtles have a home range about the size of a football field.
Sending a box turtle to some random location even within its natural range, is likely to end in certain disaster. It's not only cruel, but sad to imagine this poor animal on a hopeless journey. Thanx, Leo
Skin & Scales

To further that point of interest, multiple "tests" have been perfomed on wild box turtles with regards to homing abilities after displacement. Move them a mile, they find their ways back (mostly). Move them three miles, still, most do. Further and further, a greater failure percentage shows up. Strap magnets to their backs while moving them a distance and the maps within disappear.

I don't know if anyone has done a study on how a long range movement would affect homing ability if the animal(s) happened to be returned to the original point of capture/home range a month later. Or a year. Or five. Curious to think about.

Based on the shell's appearance, the box turtle for which this thread began looks to be captive bred (or at least raised from a very young age) - wouldn't that complicate things further! A three-toed box turtle in Washington trying to hike it's way back to an egg hatching site at a turtle breeder's spread in south Florida, ha!

You all amaze we with your knowledge base!

Would you have any guess of how old this turtle could me? Will she get much bigger? How long do they live?

There's no way to know how old an adult box turtle or any other turtle is unless you know the date it hatched.
I can't tell from your photo for sure but Yurtle looks like an adult to me.
Maybe someone else has an opinion on that to share with us?

How long do they live? hmmm some say about 30 years if not more in captivity. In the wild maybe less because of cars, humans destroying their habitats, predators. Can they live to 100 years or more? It's possible.
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PHRatz

Thank you for the information. I guess we have a new pet!

I am amazed how smart she is (we assume it is a she from the info we have read). In just 5 days she responds to our voices, is no longer afraid of us and is ready each morning for her exercise around our water feature.

>>Thank you for the information. I guess we have a new pet!
>>
>>I am amazed how smart she is (we assume it is a she from the info we have read). In just 5 days she responds to our voices, is no longer afraid of us and is ready each morning for her exercise around our water feature.
>>
>>

Congratulations on your new pet!
I know what you mean about them being smart & how amazing that is. They learn quickly & I think they are just facsinating pets.
So have you read all about how to house them, feed them etc. etc?
Please feel free to ask any questions I know the people here are happy to help you any way they can.
She's very pretty too, I saw the photo.
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PHRatz

Thank you so much.

I have read up on feeding and housing.

She catches flies and slugs when we let her out for her little exercise session. I've tried a number of things for food and she will eat at soaked dog food (it's premium for the premium mutt in our house), cherries (a little), brocolli. I am starting to see that I should just be feeding her every other day and alternating between protein and veggies/fruit?

For housing we will be building her an initial moveable pen this week-end. It is a kiwi crate (my sister works at a grocery store) that is about 4' x 3'. We'll line it with pond liner, set her up with a feeding area, a water area, a dirt/moss/compost area and a hide box. We can have this outside or bring it in at night when it gets cold.

Does that sound good for her initial housing? From there we can research more and see what her personality and needs are.

I do have a question - is it okay to let them out of their little homes indoors for exercise? (keeping the dog and cats away)

Thank you SO much for your help! And Yurtle thanks you, too.

Oh -- do you think we identified her correctly? Female three-toed box turtle?

Thanks again.

Lori

>> I've tried a number of things for food and she will eat at soaked dog food (it's premium for the premium mutt in our house), cherries (a little), brocolli. I am starting to see that I should just be feeding her every other day and alternating between protein and veggies/fruit?

That's what I do, alternate between those & because yours is a 3 toed you should have better luck with the veggie/fruits than I do. My boxies are ornate they're more carnivorous than 3 toed are. Go light on the dog food too, although it's ok as a treat or a meal now & then it's better to go with more live bugs & salad plates when you can. Most pellet foods for turtles/tortoises aren't far removed from dog food anyway so it's not all that bad for them but cat food isn't good at all. Cats are true carnivores, too much protein etc. etc. in cat food.
Don't feed much broccoli either, the cabbage family foods aren't very good for them but try squashes & dark leafy greens like turnip & collard greens.

Your housing plans sound fine to me for now, & you already know that as you go along you'll want to make changes because you have to do this, do that until you find what works for you, so I think you're on the right track there.

>I do have a question - is it okay to let them out of their little homes indoors for exercise? (keeping the dog and cats away)
>>
Oh for SURE! I do that all the time. I have an area inside the house that I've "turtle proofed" meaning I've made it safe where they can't get stuck or lost so I let my indoor turtle roam often in the house when she can't go outside.
I think yes you have ID'd the turtle correctly but is she female? I can't tell for sure without seeing her tail.
Male tails are longer & thicker than females, female tails are dainty little stubby things lol.
I'm glad for her that you've decided to keep her, because it sounds like you are willing & able to do this the right way.
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PHRatz

Here's some URLs for you to check out:
http://boxturtlesite.org/malefemale.html

http://www.billsboxturtles.com/
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PHRatz

>>>Your housing plans sound fine to me for now, & you already know that as you go along you'll want to make changes because you have to do this, do that until you find what works for you, so I think you're on the right track there.

Ok what did I say? ROFL
That's what happens when I post before I've had enough caffeine lol.
Whatever I still think you are on the right track with the housing. You'll want to tweak it as you go, you'll make it work.
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PHRatz

Sorry -- still learning how to include pictures. I'll try again.

This is definitely somebody's pet that is very long term. They also did a pretty good job of raising it. You should have no problem keeping it indoors for the winter.

Have you tried to find the owner or do you know it was left buy those who vacated the premises

>>Sorry -- still learning how to include pictures. I'll try again.
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care