Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 3 box turtles in an outdoor pen (I live in Northern New Jersey) - 1 Three toed that I've had for 5 years and 2 Easterns I got this summer. The three toed has hibernated outside each of the last 3 winters with no problem. When I picked up the Easterns their previous owner told me that he had hibernated them. Now that we're almost into November, the temps are 45-44 day and 35-45 night. The three toed has already found last year's burrow and is neatly tucked away. The 2 Easterns are still above ground, but not very active. I know they can't make it through the winter without burrowing at least a little. Has anyone had any experience with this? At what point do I decide they're not going to burrow and bring them into a winter pen indoors?

Hi there!
I had to do this with mine the first couple of winters I had them, but now they seem to have familiarized themselves with where the really good cover is.
Your new turtles might not 'know where to go', since they are new to you and this pen. They are in relatively unfamiliar surroundings now, after all. I suggest physically putting them in the designated burrow (without actually burying them deeply or anything like that), cover them a little with leaves and monitor the situation.
Stephanie

I'm presuming that when you referred to having picked them up, that the previous owner lived in your general area and therefore the turtles had hibernated outside in a comparable climate.
Stephanie

I live in south/central NJ and have overwintered my easterns outdoors for 6 years now. My one adult male always goes down on his own I always look to see where but can never find him. One adult female finds a borrow I dug for them and I fill it with leaves after she settles in. My other adult female never seems to go deep enough in my opinion so I usually place her in a burrow and cover her up. Usually she comes back up again a few times until the night temps really get below freezing(20 degree range). Last year she was still up and around until the first week in Dec. I have others ranging in age from 5 years to yearlings that dig down on their own. I was and still am surprised at the temps they can be exposed to and suffer no ill effects. Our nights here are close to freezing and the adults are still active if the days get into the 50-60 range. I caught them mating just the other day.
I do give them holes to go into and logs etc. to borrow under with lots of leaves to cover them.
Hope this helps.
Phil

This week I will be preparing my turtles for hibernation. Usual I do this early but this year it has rained on my day off for the past 2 weeks. What I will do is rake the pen clean of any place for the turtles to hide except for were I want them to hibernate. When it is ready they will go rite to this spot which I have prepared with nice soft compost for them to dig down deep into. After a few weeks I will check on them to make sure they are nice and deep then I will pile on a ton of leaves on top. The leaves act as and insulation to keep them warm (from freezing) in the winter and in the spring they keep the ground cold so that they don’t come out of hibernation early, when we have a warm day or two. Also the leaves help shed water so that the area does not flood.
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Jack