Meet the Eastern Box Turtle

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is named for its extraordinary ability to clamp its upper and lower shells shut like a box. This vulnerable species is found in the Eastern and Central parts of the United States from Maine to Florida as well as being found in Michigan, Kansas and Texas. The eastern box turtle’s diet in its youth consists of mainly animals like snails fish, and frogs, but has a more herbivorous diet in adulthood, eating things like roots and flowers. These guys can live up to one hundred years old! During their incredibly long life, box turtles do not usually venture further than 250 yards away from where they were born. This allows them to make a mental guide of their home territory, knowing all the food spots and terrain. Unfortunately, box turtles have been on the decline in Maryland due mainly to habitat loss, but there are plenty of easy ways that you can help. At your house, you can do a “turtle sweep” and look for these little guys prior to mowing or treating your lawn with chemicals. Creating things in your yard like a rain garden or planting native fruit plants can attract the turtles to your yard as wel as providing food for them to eat. Finally, removing leaf litter in your yard can take away some of the box turtles food and shelter resources, so it is important to leave the leaves! To find out more about Maryland’s turtles, visit https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/herps/FieldGuide_OrderTestudines.aspx.

This Wildlife Wednesday provided by Zander Hine, ACWA Student Board Member