Native Spotlight: Eastern Box Turtle

The Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is Ohio's only fully terrestrial turtle, characterized by a high-domed shell with yellow/orange markings and a hinged plastron allowing them to "box" themselves in. Found statewide in woodlands, fields, and forest edges, they are listed as a species of concern due to habitat loss and traffic mortality. If you are lucky enough to spot one of these colorful neighbors in your yard or on a local trail, the best thing you can do is admire them from a distance and leave them exactly where they are. These turtles have a very strong homing instinct and a small home range, so moving them to a new location can cause them to become lost and stressed while trying to find their way back.

Of course, if you see one trying to navigate a busy road, a little help is often necessary to keep them safe. If it is safe for you to stop, always move the turtle in the same direction it was already heading so it does not just turn around and walk back into traffic. Gently pick them up by the back of the shell and keep them low to the ground during the short trip to the other side. They often enjoy spending their afternoons tucked away under the broad, umbrella-like leaves of a mayapple, waiting for the perfect moment to snack on its ripened fruit. Once they reach the grass, they can continue their slow and steady journey through our local woodlands and fields.

Resource: Ohio Department of Natural Resources