Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello all,i am a long term reptile keeper(mostly snakes).i woke up this morning and walked out on my deck,for the first ciggy of the day,and there,strolling across,my yard,was a box turtle,i live in SE PA,so as i approached i assumed it would be an eastern box turtle.as i got closer it appeared to be very dirty,but i soon realised this was not dirt,bit just a very bland shell,with a faint pattern on the edges.i didn't muck with it but let it go on it's way after taking a few pics,i later googled "box turtle",and found the three toed box turtle,and this is without a doubt what was in my back yard,i was quite amazed that it did only have three toes on it's hind feet.i will post a pic or two if i can figure out how,but my question is,is this someone's pet?is there anyway it could wild this far north?
thank you.
rob.

If it is a Three toed, it is likely an escaped/released pet. They do not naturally occur that far north.

I found a three toed in a remote area of northeast Ohio in 1983. My mom still has the turtle. Last month my sister found this ornate in northeast Ohio - again, in a fairly remote area (Boston Mills Ski Reasort). The point is, escaped/relased box turtles turn up outside their natural ranges from time to time.

Tim

Third Eye

yeah i figured someone had to let it go,i know our easterns are endangered,which is why i didn't mess with this one,now i wish i would have kept her.kinda feel bad.

Hi Tim! How are your poens holding up to the weather and all? Can you show us a picture of it now?

Cute ornate. I just adore mine-however, the males are snappy. The female I have is not... This one looks like a femalke-is she snappy? Tess