I don't have experience with mauled spotteds but I do have experience with mauled box turtles. Both were wild when I took them in, neither are wild today & neither of them can ever be released back to the wild. Both sustained too much shell damage.. chewed by dogs.



Mader's books says that any who are sick or recovering from injury should not be hibernated until recovery is complete.

My vet also says do not hibernate these who are in recovery. So I don't do it.

They do fine staying awake in winter.

I soak them daily, feed them when they're hungry & then I turtle-proofed part of the house (meaning I blocked off a certain area for them) so that they can get at least one hour per day of exercise time. They do enjoy that then they go back to their Rubbermaid heated containers. I wouldn't think other turtle species would behave too differently from box turtles.

I have not seen any problems for them caused by not hibernating.
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PHRatz

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