I live close to you. Wood turtles do well outdoors in NC.

Where do you live...mountains, piedmont, sandhills, or coastal plain?

NA Wood turtles can handle the winters in the Carolinas with no problem. Mine prefer to brumate out of water. They usually brumate beneath a compost pile. According to some friends, this is strange behavior. It has worked well for me, though. They always have the option of remaining in the water.

By far, the biggest problem with housing NA Woods outdoors in the Carolinas is the summer heat. I would recommend morning sun and deep afternoon shade. Provide a deep compost pile so that they can burrow to escape the heat. Also, the pond water should stay cool. The deepest point should be more than one foot, which presents a problem because you don't want sharply sloping sides.

Give them a lot of cover...large hostas and daylillies work great.

Hope this helps. Good luck. I attend a fair amount of herp related functions in the Carolinas...maybe we will run into each other. I know of at least a dozen other NA Wood enthusiasts in the region.

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