Often the animals we see are big and really grab our attention. We can stand still and silent gazing at the beauty of a doe and her fawns, or a big buck, or even a bear, but sometimes it is the smaller creatures that can not avoid us, that can keep our attention or those of children for longer spaces of time because they are so interesting. These creatures can include chipmunks and squirrels, snakes and turtles, wild birds and even Canadian geese. Who has not marveled at the perfect V formation of their flight patterns, in the spring and fall.
But what do we know about these animals? Do we know about their eating habits or where they live? How about how they rear their young or spend the winter months. Do you know which of the smaller creatures are becoming endangered and why? Often times on the trail or while camping we find baby animals and think their lost or have no mother. Maybe we take them home as pets without the real knowledge of how to feed and care for them. When this happens it is generally not safe for the animal to be returned to the wild and often they die or must spend their whole life in captivity.
BOX TURTLES (Terrapene & Terrapene carolina)
There are two types of box turtles found in the United States. One is the eastern variety and the other is the western box turtle. The eastern box turtles have a shell length of 4-8 1/2 inches long. The western box turtle shell length is 4-5 1/4 inches long. The habitat of the eastern type is damp forests and fields and floodplains. The western ones are found in dry prairies and scrub plains, woodlands and mesquite grasslands. these creatures are basically land-dwelling reptiles, but will often cool themselves in woodland ponds or puddles, and streams. They are know for living long lifetimes, some having been found over 100 years old. Identified by dates that had been scratched into their shells.
Trying to identify their age by counting the growth rings can be misleading as the rings to not develop equally each year and after 10 to 15 years they could disappear all together. Most turtles can withdraw into their shells, but a box turtle can close up more tightly than other species because of its plastron or lower shell. Since it is hinged the front and rear sections can be bent upward so that the edges of the two shells meet, thus they are well protected.
Watch this video to learn more about box turtles.
But what do we know about these animals? Do we know about their eating habits or where they live? How about how they rear their young or spend the winter months. Do you know which of the smaller creatures are becoming endangered and why? Often times on the trail or while camping we find baby animals and think their lost or have no mother. Maybe we take them home as pets without the real knowledge of how to feed and care for them. When this happens it is generally not safe for the animal to be returned to the wild and often they die or must spend their whole life in captivity.
BOX TURTLES (Terrapene & Terrapene carolina)
There are two types of box turtles found in the United States. One is the eastern variety and the other is the western box turtle. The eastern box turtles have a shell length of 4-8 1/2 inches long. The western box turtle shell length is 4-5 1/4 inches long. The habitat of the eastern type is damp forests and fields and floodplains. The western ones are found in dry prairies and scrub plains, woodlands and mesquite grasslands. these creatures are basically land-dwelling reptiles, but will often cool themselves in woodland ponds or puddles, and streams. They are know for living long lifetimes, some having been found over 100 years old. Identified by dates that had been scratched into their shells.
Trying to identify their age by counting the growth rings can be misleading as the rings to not develop equally each year and after 10 to 15 years they could disappear all together. Most turtles can withdraw into their shells, but a box turtle can close up more tightly than other species because of its plastron or lower shell. Since it is hinged the front and rear sections can be bent upward so that the edges of the two shells meet, thus they are well protected.
Watch this video to learn more about box turtles.