Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We recently became proud owners of 3 wild 'box' turtles...
Had seen them on the dirt road that leads into our property and even though we found them on different days, they have got to me the most 'social' creatures I have ever come across...

They have alternated time between a bathtub and a cardboard box abd seeing the weather turned quite warm again having been spending the day outside in a big plastic 'tote container'...

A friend just mentioned that within a couple of weeks we will have to turn them loos so they can go hibernate for the winter to survive, yet I thought I had read on someone's site that you can build a pen for them and they would be ok...
My 8 year old was just about in tears when I told her we'd have to let "Sparky', "Dot" and "Lucky" go...

Thye seem to love 'taco lettuce' (the bagged shredded stuff) and zucchini and canned diced potatoes...they even like the dogs and cats...

In the short time we've had them they became a BIG part of the family...

Any info and advise you can offer is deeply appreciated...

Thanks in advance...
WTL

If it were me, I'd let them go. I'd try to obtain some young captive bred animals. The younger animals would be much better able to adapt to the conditions that you've set up. Many wild box turtles die simply because they are unable to deal with captive conditions. Captive bred animals know nothing else.
That said, if you do keep them, please purchase a book about box turtles. In a good book, it should tell you how to build an outdoor enclosure (which would be best), what to feed them, and if you should hibernate them or not. For instance, iceberg lettuce is not only of very little nutritional value, but can be harmful...box turtles may eat too much of that and too little of "good stuff". There are also many good internet sites about box turtle care. Put your kids on the job...I used to read turtle books when I was only 4. After reading some information, they may even agree that it would be best to let them go. Good luck.

As long as they have fat armpits you can hibernate them in a deep mulch pit once they start digging and become sluggish.