The main issue with box turtles as pets is their long life. Is a person willing and able to keep a box turtle healthy and happy for many decades? That should be a question every thoughtful person should ask themselves before getting a box turtle.

A long hibernation is not necessary to keep a turtle healthy, a short one will work. In my case, since my turtles live outside and they see and feel the changing seasons, they want to hibernate and I let them, but in a controlled manner inside a large hibernation box that I keep in an outbuilding that has electricity. You can read about my hibernation box and about hibernation itself, online or in my book.
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Tess Cook
www.boxturtlesite.info