Saved a little wayward box turtle today

I was driving making my doordash deliveries today and this little turtle was running, as much as a turtle can run, straight towards the street full of traffic.
So I brought it home going to keep it for a few days and then release it to a safe place where it will not have access to roads.
If it is a female which I'm pretty sure it is ..
I might hang on to her for a while to make sure she's not gravid and give her babies a chance to hatch before I turn the family back in the wild. Springtime is reptile reproduction time...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...74bd8163d6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a46bf86a8d.jpg

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Awww you did good! And that's a perfect hide for a box turtle!:rofl:

Awww, thank you for helping her/him. So many turtles get killed on roads in my state- :tears: -they like to travel around so much & are oblivious to traffic.

I have saved several Turtles throughout the years during this season mainly red-eared sliders.
There were a couple that I was able to repair their cracked shells but there were a couple that I had to take to the vet and have euthanized just to put them out of their pain. There's a wonderful Nature Park very close to my neighborhood that has a huge Pond full of red eared sliders . I have relocated there and I've also relocated a couple of baby snakes there. Also one of them that I relocated there was a three-legged turtle.

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How cute!!

^{_{PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put her back within 100 yards of where you found Her!}} Like on the other side of the road - the one it was crossing towards. They have VERY specific territories and moving her will likely cause her to die - either through starvation or not finding a proper shelter come winter. Moving her also risks taking any disease or parasites from her population into a new one.

IF she is gravid she will hold onto the eggs and has a high chance at egg binding - in my experience they often need to be chemically induced to lay their eggs when in captivity. Also, the babies will imprint on were they hatch and stay within a few acres of that site for their entire lives...just release her

I know it's hard to think about them crossing roads, but it is her home and he knows where all the food, shelters, mates, etc are. I've worked with turtle conservation and relocation in school and in wildlife rehab - relocation protocol takes years, and even then many don't survive - and that is with help from scientists and conservationists. Just tossing her in a new location is comparable to dumping a dog out into the wilderness, except the dog has the chance of someone finding and rescuing it.

Just google turtle relocation and read some of the articles - that and taking them for pets are causing the populations to drop off rapidly. If you want to help just escort her back to where you found her ASAP and put her on the side of the road she was trying to get to.

Crowfingers, thank you SO much for enlightening us. There are many wandering turtles in my area too & I've never heard that they have a specific territory.
I am in a small town with some pretty big roads (lots of traffic) and some still find their way into my back yard. Not knowing this, I moved them out of town.

Another thing causing their decline is that some are "harvesting" them to sell as food overseas, or even for consumption here. When you factor in the natural
predators, diseases, climate issues and loss of habitat, we truly must do all that we can to see that they survive.

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

^{_{PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put her back within 100 yards of where you found Her!}} Like on the other side of the road - the one it was crossing towards. They have VERY specific territories and moving her will likely cause her to die - either through starvation or not finding a proper shelter come winter. Moving her also risks taking any disease or parasites from her population into a new one.

IF she is gravid she will hold onto the eggs and has a high chance at egg binding - in my experience they often need to be chemically induced to lay their eggs when in captivity. Also, the babies will imprint on were they hatch and stay within a few acres of that site for their entire lives...just release her

I know it's hard to think about them crossing roads, but it is her home and he knows where all the food, shelters, mates, etc are. I've worked with turtle conservation and relocation in school and in wildlife rehab - relocation protocol takes years, and even then many don't survive - and that is with help from scientists and conservationists. Just tossing her in a new location is comparable to dumping a dog out into the wilderness, except the dog has the chance of someone finding and rescuing it.

Just google turtle relocation and read some of the articles - that and taking them for pets are causing the populations to drop off rapidly. If you want to help just escort her back to where you found her ASAP and put her on the side of the road she was trying to get to.

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Very good points. Thanks for the reply and the education.

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

^{_{PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put her back within 100 yards of where you found Her!}} Like on the other side of the road - the one it was crossing towards. They have VERY specific territories and moving her will likely cause her to die - either through starvation or not finding a proper shelter come winter. Moving her also risks taking any disease or parasites from her population into a new one.

IF she is gravid she will hold onto the eggs and has a high chance at egg binding - in my experience they often need to be chemically induced to lay their eggs when in captivity. Also, the babies will imprint on were they hatch and stay within a few acres of that site for their entire lives...just release her

I know it's hard to think about them crossing roads, but it is her home and he knows where all the food, shelters, mates, etc are. I've worked with turtle conservation and relocation in school and in wildlife rehab - relocation protocol takes years, and even then many don't survive - and that is with help from scientists and conservationists. Just tossing her in a new location is comparable to dumping a dog out into the wilderness, except the dog has the chance of someone finding and rescuing it.

Just google turtle relocation and read some of the articles - that and taking them for pets are causing the populations to drop off rapidly. If you want to help just escort her back to where you found her ASAP and put her on the side of the road she was trying to get to.

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I wanted to say this but didn't know how to word it without sounding like an a**. You did a good job at explaining it thank you very much.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm not trying to come off as a jerk, but I love these creatures and want them to be around for the future :)
I know people want to do the right thing, I also kept them as pets for a few weeks and released them wherever when I was younger and before I knew better. Just want to get the word out too

You never came off "sounding like a jerk" IMO, and besides, the welfare of animals out-ranks our egos...you said what we all needed to know, the truth.

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

Thanks for all the replies. I'm not trying to come off as a jerk, but I love these creatures and want them to be around for the future :)
I know people want to do the right thing, I also kept them as pets for a few weeks and released them wherever when I was younger and before I knew better. Just want to get the word out too

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You didn't come off like a jerk, and honestly had you no posted that, I would have been posting a very similar message.

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Originally Posted by Toad37

I wanted to say this but didn't know how to word it without sounding like an a**. You did a good job at explaining it thank you very much.

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This is such crap
I will not be releasing it back where I found it I will be releasing it where there are many other box turtles it's a very safe location and it will be fine

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

This is such crap
I will not be releasing it back where I found it I will be releasing it where there are many other box turtles it's a very safe location and it will be fine

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So you don't care what so ever about the welfare of that poor turtle? Did you even bother googling it or taking advice from anyone on here? Do what you gotta do but all any of us did was try to help.

And how did I get singled out when everyone on here is saying the same thing?!?!

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Originally Posted by Toad37

So you don't care what so ever about the welfare of that poor turtle? Did you even bother googling it or taking advice from anyone on here? Do what you gotta do but all any of us did was try to help.

And how did I get singled out when everyone on here is saying the same thing?!?!

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I'm not going to explain myself anymore but to say the place this turtle was is not a good place for it to be or it would not have been headed towards a very busy Street. And to help it cross to other side of the street was not an option, on the other side of the street is an apartment complex. There's just a small area with a grassy ditch surrounded by pavement ,apartment complexes and streets. Its natural habitat like many other animals is being destroyed by humans. It will be relocated to a place where I have taken many turtles before that I've rescued.

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

I'm not going to explain myself anymore but to say the place this turtle was is not a good place for it to be or it would not have been headed towards a very busy Street. And to help it cross to other side of the street was not an option, on the other side of the street is an apartment complex. There's just a small area with a grassy ditch surrounded by pavement ,apartment complexes and streets. Its natural habitat like many other animals is being destroyed by humans. It will be relocated to a place where I have taken many turtles before that I've rescued.

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Jellybean,
After looking at the pictures you provided it's a pretty safe bet that the turtle is over a decade old, maybe two. Most of its shell is devoid of pattern and much of the edges are rounded. It is not a young animal, meaning it has done just fine for a long time without any intervention from you. What Crow said is an absolute fact, whether you agree or not. Box turtles throughout their life rarely leave a 200 yard radius from the place they hatch. They know every inch of their territory by the time the reach the age of the turtle you have. You can do as you wish, but to ignore this fact and to place the animal in some other territory, will be to ensure the very thing you state your actions were preventing, death.

Because you wont be there to see it, doesn't mean it wont die. In fact, the odds of its survival are less than if you had just let it cross the road while you watched. At least if you had let it cross the road it stood a chance, and if it had been hit by a car its death would likely have been instantaneous. Your way, the death can come in any number of ways, most of which will be of longer duration and may involve suffering.

I'm not here to judge, just to educate. The decision is yours. Remember, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him think.

Unfortunately, Jellybeans, I have to agree with the others. I've been around this forum long enough to know that RL is extremely knowledgeable as well as Crowfingers. Toad is still relatively new to the forum, but also seems very knowledgeable.

Granted, I know very little about turtles, what they said makes sense and sounds familiar, as if I'd read it somewhere in the past.

Rather than coming off defensive and confrontational, maybe do some research on your own?

I wasn't going to chime in, but it seems that the others have the knowledge and are trying to help the turtle. I'm definitely not saying you don't have the animals best interest at heart, just that others may be more experienced on the topic.

Just because you released others in that location before doesn't mean they lived...

Look I'm not going to keep defending myself because I don't have to. I've had many different species of turtles in the past and they have all thrived with where they were relocated at. Humans have destroyed habitats for many kinds of animals maybe this Turtle made it for many years with where it was but something has Disturbed the habitat once again and I'm going to do what I have to do to save animals when I can.
I don't care what the others have said I know me and I know what I've done for many years and it's worked out to be a beautiful ending for these animals.
Under the watchful eye of a rehabilitation center.

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Look I'm not going to keep defending myself because I don't have to. I've had many different species of turtles in the past and they have all thrived with where they were relocated at. Humans have destroyed habitats for many kinds of animals maybe this Turtle made it for many years with where it was but something has Disturbed the habitat once again and I'm going to do what I have to do to save animals when I can.
I don't care what the others have said I know me and I know what I've done for many years and it's worked out to be a beautiful ending for these animals.
Under the watchful eye of a rehabilitation center.

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So you're somehow tracking these animals that you've re-released?

Point has been made. People pushed to hard generally will do just the opposite of what you want then to do just because they can.

You seem very unwilling to listen to advice and honestly makes me inclined to think you do not care about the turtle, rather than being "right".

I didn't know a lot about turtles until I did some searching, and still am not sure if there are issues for relocating other species of turtles as you say you ha e BUT box turtles are clearly documented as a specific species that must not be relocated unless done by licensed professionals and even then is done only when absolutely necessary. If there is even a creek or a pond in or around the area those apartments are in, that's where it needs to be returned to.

From boxturtles.com on Box Turtle Conservation (http://www.boxturtles.com/box-turtle-conservation/):
"Removing a wild box turtle from their home causes stress for them. Box turtles that were born in the wild and were later put into captivity tend to have a much shorter life span. Worse than this; some people take box turtles from their home, and then release them elsewhere into the wild. Box turtles will not simply settle down in a new location if moved. More often than not, they will wander aimlessly; hopelessly trying to fine their old home until they die. It’s not too uncommon for humans to take in box turtles for a few weeks, and then later decide to let them go. It’s best never to remove a box turtle from their home unless you have a good reason. And if you return them to the wild, it must be in the exact same spot you took them from."

A few more links:
- Study summaries:
http://www.gctts.org/node/300

- Turtle rescue:
http://turtlerescues.com/found_box_turtle.htm

- Wildlife Center of Virginia:
https://www.wildlifecenter.org/tips-helping-turtles

-A specific study on home range and relocated box turtles:
https://bioone.org/journals/journal-...3/2007-049.pdf

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You don't know me you don't know what I've done to help many turtles... you don't know how well the outcome has been.
Done with this piece of crap forum..Go ahead and permanently block me Deborah because you're a cunning little smart ass. I've been wanting to say that for a long time !

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Well, this thread will get locked soon, but I wanted to ask before it does: Jellybeans, are you okay? I've valued your contributions to this forum and feel like you're generally pretty level-headed, willing to listen to advice and give advice. Just wanted to make sure you're okay, as I wouldn't have thought you'd react this way to knowledgeable members giving very thoughtful feedback...?

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

You don't know me you don't know what I've done to help many turtles... you don't know how well the outcome has been.
Done with this piece of crap forum..Go ahead and permanently block me Deborah because you're a cunning little smart ass. I've been wanting to say that for a long time !

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Well alright. That was a little over the top. No need for name calling. People are trying to offer help. The facts are right there in black and white, pretty cut and dry.
This has clearly become all about you. And instead of thanking people for their time and effort to help you and the turtle you decide to bash the forum?
Up until now I respected you. Now you're acting like a child taking his ball and going home.

This forum has been nothing but good to you on your journey with your new snakes. But apparently one thread that proves you wrong is too much for you to handle like an adult.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

Well, this thread will get locked soon, but I wanted to ask before it does: Jellybeans, are you okay? I've valued your contributions to this forum and feel like you're generally pretty level-headed, willing to listen to advice and give advice. Just wanted to make sure you're okay, as I wouldn't have thought you'd react this way to knowledgeable members giving very thoughtful feedback...?

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Think of it this way, this person thought they were doing good and then they find out everything they were doing is supposedly wrong. Logically, without specific knowledge of this species, they felt they did the right thing. Honestly, I probably would have done the same thing. So now they find out they may be doing more harm than good. It's a hard pill to swallow. I believe the person in question would eventually do the right thing. Instead we are beating a dead horse. I have personally been guilty of the same crap.

When you confront problems like this you have to decide if you are actually trying to help or just get on the bus with everyone else.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Think of it this way, this person thought they were doing good and then they find out everything they were doing is supposedly wrong. Logically, without specific knowledge of this species, they felt they did the right thing. Honestly, I probably would have done the same thing. So now they find out they may be doing more harm than good. It's a hard pill to swallow. I believe the person in question would eventually do the right thing. Instead we are beating a dead horse. I have personally been guilty of the same crap.

When you confront problems like this you have to decide if you are actually trying to help or just get on the bus with everyone else.

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I don't disagree. I've made mistakes too, but when facts are put in front of me I learn.
I don't know much about turtles, but a quick Google search combined with the info shared on this thread would steer me in the right direction.

I have no problem with trying to help the turtle, I'm all for it. But when the evidence showed that I was wrong I would swallow my pride and do the right thing.

I truly believe OP was trying to do what's best for the turtle. But just slamming the door shut on knowledgable people proves that it's not all about the animal.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Think of it this way, this person thought they were doing good and then they find out everything they were doing is supposedly wrong. Logically, without specific knowledge of this species, they felt they did the right thing. Honestly, I probably would have done the same thing. So now they find out they may be doing more harm than good. It's a hard pill to swallow. I believe the person in question would eventually do the right thing. Instead we are beating a dead horse. I have personally been guilty of the same crap.

When you confront problems like this you have to decide if you are actually trying to help or just get on the bus with everyone else.

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You're not wrong; piling on is generally poorly received. I had spent time pulling links to give concrete support for the reasoning since I thought the resources could be helpful or provide more legitimate sources for why people were saying what they did. I didn't see several of the other posts right above mine before I posted mine since I was copying the links on mobile and it took a bit.

However, being extremely rude like they were is unacceptable per forum rules and Deb in no way deserves those comments. I can understand getting frustrated and feeling cornered, but that was still a poor response.

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Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

However, being extremely rude like they were is unacceptable per forum rules and Deb in no way deserves those comments. I can understand getting frustrated and feeling cornered, but that was still a poor response.

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Taking the time to share those links was awesome. Thank you for that.

And calling out Deb?!??!?!?! She wasn't even involved in the thread!!!!
Apparently OP is ignorant to the fact that Deb is a HUGE asset to this forum and our hobby as a whole.
Oh well, sorry you got dragged into this, Deb.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Taking the time to share those links was awesome. Thank you for that.

And calling out Deb?!??!?!?! She wasn't even involved in the thread!!!!
Apparently OP is ignorant to the fact that Deb is a HUGE asset to this forum and our hobby as a whole.
Oh well, sorry you got dragged into this, Deb.

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I was looking them up for myself on a break at work since I had never heard that about box turtles before and thought they seemed like good sites and all backing what was advised on here. Figured those of us interested without experience could benefit from them as well as OP.

Cursing Deb out was so out of left field for me. I can't think of anything Deb has even had to step in on involving OP, so no idea where the hate is coming from.

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Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

You're not wrong; piling on is generally poorly received. I had spent time pulling links to give concrete support for the reasoning since I thought the resources could be helpful or provide more legitimate sources for why people were saying what they did. I didn't see several of the other posts right above mine before I posted mine since I was copying the links on mobile and it took a bit.

However, being extremely rude like they were is unacceptable per forum rules and Deb in no way deserves those comments. I can understand getting frustrated and feeling cornered, but that was still a poor response.

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No one did anything wrong other than not seeing the explosion coming. I'm of the opinion that we need to be more cognizant, as much as we can be in a venue like this of the direction things are going. The board is small enough as it is right now without chasing well meaning people away. As far as Deb goes. She is tough and can take it.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

As far as Deb goes. She is tough and can take it.

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No doubt!!! Hahaha. But I still thought it was way out of left field and completely uncalled for.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

No one did anything wrong other than not seeing the explosion coming. I'm of the opinion that we need to be more cognizant, as much as we can be in a venue like this of the direction things are going. The board is small enough as it is right now without chasing well meaning people away. As far as Deb goes. She is tough and can take it.

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I do think there's a difference between constructive/helpful feedback and piling on unnecessarily. After all, part of the purpose of a forum like this is to learn and to educate/help others. We can't take responsibility for the reaction of others when they're on the receiving end of constructive feedback, especially when it was given in such a respectful manner. I don't think anyone was trying to chase anyone away. OP's reaction was so far left-field I don't know if you could have seen it coming?

Personally, I'm honestly glad for all of the information that was provided on turtles and relocation because I learned something new. :)

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

I do think there's a difference between constructive/helpful feedback and piling on unnecessarily. After all, part of the purpose of a forum like this is to learn and to educate/help others. We can't take responsibility for the reaction of others when they're on the receiving end of constructive feedback, especially when it was given in such a respectful manner. I don't think anyone was trying to chase anyone away. OP's reaction was so far left-field I don't know if you could have seen it coming?

Personally, I'm honestly glad for all of the information that was provided on turtles and relocation because I learned something new. :)

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Me too...there are many wandering box turtles in my area, & I've played "road guard" before, but when 2 found their way into my back yard*, I did the same thing,
took them to better habitat away from roads. I was misinformed at the time, but will be sharing this information now, since I'm sure it will come up again. (*it's easier
to get into my back yard than to get out of it, no way they could leave on their own, due to a one-way grate under the fence & over the drainage creek.)

Sweet baby jebus.... this forum is better than most tv dramas these days... like game of thrones... but with less dragons and more adult temper tantrums. Lol

But yeah, learned long ago that the best approach is to just leave stuff be, if relocation is needed, it's best to do it somewhere nearby... if everything is really that developed in the area then the turtle is likely doomed anyway, might as well give it a chance to choose a new habitat than force one on it.

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Looks like this thread has been thoroughly derailed... So I'm not really aiming this response at the OP, but at everyone who's commenting about the nice opportunity to become more educated about turtles. I, unfortunately, have a lot of experience with box turtles. My family currently has 2 pet wild-caught box turtles. In my state it is not illegal for us to have taken these turtles, but that doesn't make me feel less guilty about it. My sibling and I caught them when we were young kids. They've been taken from their natural territories and at this point releasing them would do more harm then good. All we can do is give them the best life that they can have for the next 50+ years.

Different states have varying laws about turtles. In general though they really shouldn't be removed from the wild. I've always heard as a general rule of thumb, if you pick up a turtle to move it to the other side of the road, you need to walk it straight across the road and face it in the direction it was originally walking. Otherwise their "internal compass" can get very messed up, which can lead to them becoming lost and dying from being unable to find resources they need.

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

You don't know me you don't know what I've done to help many turtles... you don't know how well the outcome has been.
Done with this piece of crap forum..Go ahead and permanently block me Deborah because you're a cunning little smart ass. I've been wanting to say that for a long time !

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Well seeing as I haven't been super active with everything going on in my personal life, someone decided to poke the dog........
Friendly reminder that this forum will remain as it has always been and it is your choice to be here or not.
If you feel you cannot act as an adult, you will get treated like a child.
The timeout can vary depending on Mods and Admins.....
This thread is DONE.