Mostly Land-Dwelling Turtles
North American box turtles in the genus Terrapene are primarily terrestrial. Their hinged lower shell, called the plastron, can close around the body for protection. Species use wooded edges, grasslands, damp meadows and leaf litter, often near shallow water but not as open-water swimmers. The familiar orange or yellow markings of an eastern box turtle are variable, and colour alone is not enough to identify every box turtle.
An Omnivorous Diet Changes With Age and Place
Box turtles eat a mix of plant and animal material, including fruit, fungi, invertebrates and carrion when available. Younger animals may eat proportionally more animal prey, while adults of some species consume more plant matter. Diet depends on season, habitat and species, so it should not be reduced to a single favourite food. A wild turtle should be left to forage naturally rather than fed by visitors.
Roads and Collection Create Lasting Risks
Slow movement and small home areas make box turtles vulnerable to roads, habitat fragmentation and removal for the pet trade. Taking a turtle from the wild can remove a long-lived breeding adult from a local population. If a turtle is crossing a road, help only when it is safe to do so, and move it in the direction it was already travelling. Do not relocate it to a distant park, pond or backyard, and follow local wildlife rules.
