I just helped a nice big box turtle cross the road. This biggest one I've ever seen. I'm 70 years old and was still excited to see it. It brought back memories.
@brianquilty687 please be kind to them. I work for the Pennsylvania game commission. And we always move them off the road. And here in Pennsylvania they are doing all right.
Living so close to the Mississippi here in La Crosse, we occasionally see turtles crossing roads to get to good egg-laying sites further inland, and further into human habitat. One or two seasons ago, we saw a mom turtle (don't remember if it was a box) heading into our yard from the direction of the river, and then heading back in the other direction a short time later. I was trying to stay hands-off, heeding wildlife experts' advice that trying to "help" them could get them disoriented, but after a passing motorist tried to "rescue" her from the road by placing her back on OUR side, I decided it would be better to assist after all, and I took her back to the side of the road she was trying to get to. Hopefully she recognized the terrain and navigated back to the river from there; I don't think there were any other roads in her way. She did seem to be going the right way before I lost sight of her.
Eastern box turtles are my favorite critters to encounter in the wild! I'll watch any video about them, but your voice really communicates the joy you have for these creatures, which made this especially delightful (along with the great footage)!
Great video. When I first moved to Virginia back in the late 80’s I lived right next to Sower’s Mill Damn in Floyd County. The diversity in reptiles was great. Thank you for doing these videos and bringing awareness to these wonderful creatures.
@@natureatyourdoor Never there but I was surrounded by them growing up. My aunt was a herpetologist at the University of Wisconsin. I spent alot of time fishing in the Little River. I live in Fort Chiswell now in the mountains and have found an amazing diversity of lizards, salamanders, and snakes plus I have 6 snakes and two turtles of my own.
@charlesmangum2100 😁 have you seen my how to safely pick up a snapping turtle to move to a safe location video! Check it out and weigh in on that! Let me know what you think! 🙂
I'm holding my box turtle right now! I've had her for 35 YEARS! When my nephew was seven, he found and kept her. She was sick and wouldn't eat, so I nursed her back to health and asked if I could have her. Box turtles are a big responsibility. Temperature is very important. If they don't like their conditions, they go on hunger strikes, get weak and die! They need exercise, interaction, and a big aquarium. They are expensive! Canned food, eye drops, shell lotion, heat lamps, reptile bark, special bulbs, big aquariums, vet bills ,etc. So leave them in the wild or you might have a dead turtle and a sad kid. That being said ...I love my turtle, and she loves me. She fusses for me to hold her. Plays tug of war and bite the beard. Likes classic rock music, swims in a big pot for exercise on bath day. I try to hold her for a few hrs every day. Her name is'' Cordelia'' but mainly call her ''Turtle Pants''. A fun pet but not an easy one! PS. .... If you already have a box turtle, I recommend Zoomed box turtle canned food. It's about $3.50 a can (4 feedings) and a steady feeding schedule. My turtle eats every 2 1/2 days. Mine won't eat dry food. Lettuce doesn't have enough nutrition and bananas is like giving them candy every day. Special box turtle food has fruits, vegetables, fish meal, vitamins, proteins etc. Also, a bulb that gives both UVA and UVB rays about $30 to $60. Bulbs give them vitamins, so does the eye drops and lotion. also a aquarium thermometer. and carefully trim the beak and toenails.
I live in VA on 3 acres. In July I saw a mating pair of box turtles and took a photo. Then a few days later there was a third that was a good bit smaller. It was hiding in the Rudbeckia that I was clearing. They must be enjoying my land because I keep brush heaps and most of the land is undisturbed woods. There’s a listing of native plants supporting box turtles. I planted many berries bushes to support birds, but it turns out the box turtles feast on berries as well. If there are baby box turtles around, I haven’t seen those. 🐢
When I was a kid back in the mid to late 70s, there was a box turtle that used to show up in our yard every year. That was back in the days when every single yard on the blockdid not have a fence around it. It would be impossible today.
Once again; A superb presentation, by a highly respectable educator, the kind that every youth should enjoy for a mentor at some time in their young learning experience. I will wager good money that you see LOTS of comeback students! I'm confident that you have inspired thousands for a lifetime, and saved countless of God's creatures from unnecessary termination. Thank you, Frank!
One of these apparently moved into my backyard about a month ago. She's dug herself a little hole in the mulch that she sleeps in. My dog had no idea what to make of it. First he was confused by it, then mad at it, and now he's kind of accepted that ok, she lives here now
Fabulous critter! When I was a kid in Northern Virginia in the early 60s, we would see them all the time when we were exploring in the woods. I made a "farm" for them in our backyard to save as many as I could from habitat (and of course their direct) destruction by graders for new housing developments nearby. When we had to move due to my father's reassignment, we relocated our "turtles" (tortoises) to less threatened areas. Interesting factoid, at least in my experience, if you face them into a tree and go off and do your other adventures in the woods, including finding more of them, and come back they'll still be there faced into the tree! I don't think they have much of a sense of reverse! As this video creator suggested, very gentle and even affectionate souls. Tide for my favorite reptile... the other discovered in our eventual move to the Southwest being the desert horned lizard, aka "horny toad"-- same thing, character-ful, gentle souls.
Hi Frank. From Pennsylvania buddy Jeff. Awsome you gotta love box turtle. Tommy went to Maine with us. He's pretty cool also. He's a painted turtle. We saved him along time ago. God bless. Your buddy Jeff. Check your mail box😊
If you find a turtle crossing a road, yes, carry them across the road in the direction they’re originally going, But pick them up with one hand on each side and hold them out at arms length. they will void urine in some quantity when frightened! 👍😀
@@natureatyourdoor I seen one laying eggs and left it be. I put a big bottomless wire cage over the nest a few days later so raccoon or what ever would not get them. After probably literally a year of me watching I finally thought I missed them hatching or they are bad so dug them up. All bad. IDK why but it wasnt from me. Just something in nature may be messing them up fertilization or something.
@@rabbithomesteading3797 I had a nest predated on this year. Bout killed me to think of all of the nutrients and work she put into it. If I find another one I’m definitely going to try your enclosure idea! Thanks for that!
I recently worked at a house where the lady has a pair of box turtles in her yard. She said she's seen them mating. I explained to her about the male's shell, and I picked up the female to show her. I didn't see the male or the babies.
Well living in tuckerton nj in the pine barrens I found one trapped in a old basement foundation in the woods felt sorry for it n took it out of the pit from the old pit and next day I seen one smashed on the road 539 and I think it was living in there for its whole life but im not sure it was the same one I thought I rescued from the old house foundation in the pines idk I just thought it was was cruel he was trapped in that old foundation in the pine barrens
My understanding is that eastern box turtles don’t develop the hinge/ability to fully close up inside of their shells until they’re of 4 or 5 years old. Is that correct?
I have a couple box turtles. One big male named Mojojojo. I did not name him that. And a female named Robin they both love together in an outdoor enclosure. I feed them mostly fruit lettuce insects and quail. My mom also has a box turtle but i dont take responsibility for that.
@natureatyourdoor I'm not good now. I just took in a blind turtle found in the wild. I do have a permit for wild caught turtles. But a blind turtle is a whole new can of worms. He is eating but it's a real challenge. I'd compare it to a claw game you play blindfolded.
@@joecamel919 you got this! You will be successful with a blind turtle. Did you notice one of the box turtles that "modeled" for me in my videos had only one eye?
I just helped a nice big box turtle cross the road. This biggest one I've ever seen. I'm 70 years old and was still excited to see it. It brought back memories.
Cool! 😎
Turtles have always been my favorite reptile. This was one of your best videos ever !!
Awe! Thank you! Yes, turtles are endearing!
@brianquilty687 please be kind to them. I work for the Pennsylvania game commission. And we always move them off the road. And here in Pennsylvania they are doing all right.
@@JeffreyCotle We don't have any box turtles where I live in Canada but if I did I would definitely be kind to them. They are incredible creatures.
I’ve pulled over out here in the East TN back roads to get two box turtles off the road and one small snapper. 👍
😄👍👍👍👍
Living so close to the Mississippi here in La Crosse, we occasionally see turtles crossing roads to get to good egg-laying sites further inland, and further into human habitat. One or two seasons ago, we saw a mom turtle (don't remember if it was a box) heading into our yard from the direction of the river, and then heading back in the other direction a short time later. I was trying to stay hands-off, heeding wildlife experts' advice that trying to "help" them could get them disoriented, but after a passing motorist tried to "rescue" her from the road by placing her back on OUR side, I decided it would be better to assist after all, and I took her back to the side of the road she was trying to get to. Hopefully she recognized the terrain and navigated back to the river from there; I don't think there were any other roads in her way. She did seem to be going the right way before I lost sight of her.
Thanks for sharing your observations and experiences!
Also interesting is the relationship of box turtles and mayapples.
Ah! I didn't know! Makes sense! Thanks for sharing!
Eastern box turtles are my favorite critters to encounter in the wild! I'll watch any video about them, but your voice really communicates the joy you have for these creatures, which made this especially delightful (along with the great footage)!
Awe! Thank you so much! 🙂
Great video. When I first moved to Virginia back in the late 80’s I lived right next to Sower’s Mill Damn in Floyd County. The diversity in reptiles was great. Thank you for doing these videos and bringing awareness to these wonderful creatures.
@@Mr688895 cool place! Did you see hellbenders in the water there?
@@natureatyourdoor Never there but I was surrounded by them growing up. My aunt was a herpetologist at the University of Wisconsin. I spent alot of time fishing in the Little River. I live in Fort Chiswell now in the mountains and have found an amazing diversity of lizards, salamanders, and snakes plus I have 6 snakes and two turtles of my own.
Touch and observe, only. A snapping turtle, leave alone, period.
@charlesmangum2100 😁 have you seen my how to safely pick up a snapping turtle to move to a safe location video! Check it out and weigh in on that! Let me know what you think! 🙂
@@natureatyourdoor I'll let you move it.
@@charlesmangum2100 🤣😅😂
I'm holding my box turtle right now! I've had her for 35 YEARS! When my nephew was seven, he found and kept her. She was sick and wouldn't eat, so I nursed her back to health and asked if I could have her. Box turtles are a big responsibility. Temperature is very important. If they don't like their conditions, they go on hunger strikes, get weak and die! They need exercise, interaction, and a big aquarium. They are expensive! Canned food, eye drops, shell lotion, heat lamps, reptile bark, special bulbs, big aquariums, vet bills ,etc. So leave them in the wild or you might have a dead turtle and a sad kid. That being said ...I love my turtle, and she loves me. She fusses for me to hold her. Plays tug of war and bite the beard. Likes classic rock music, swims in a big pot for exercise on bath day. I try to hold her for a few hrs every day. Her name is'' Cordelia'' but mainly call her ''Turtle Pants''. A fun pet but not an easy one! PS. .... If you already have a box turtle, I recommend Zoomed box turtle canned food. It's about $3.50 a can (4 feedings) and a steady feeding schedule. My turtle eats every 2 1/2 days. Mine won't eat dry food. Lettuce doesn't have enough nutrition and bananas is like giving them candy every day. Special box turtle food has fruits, vegetables, fish meal, vitamins, proteins etc. Also, a bulb that gives both UVA and UVB rays about $30 to $60. Bulbs give them vitamins, so does the eye drops and lotion. also a aquarium thermometer. and carefully trim the beak and toenails.
Thanks for your share and expertise!
Very interesting. Thanks for all the information. Great video
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful video! My new favorite!
I live in VA on 3 acres. In July I saw a mating pair of box turtles and took a photo. Then a few days later there was a third that was a good bit smaller. It was hiding in the Rudbeckia that I was clearing. They must be enjoying my land because I keep brush heaps and most of the land is undisturbed woods. There’s a listing of native plants supporting box turtles. I planted many berries bushes to support birds, but it turns out the box turtles feast on berries as well. If there are baby box turtles around, I haven’t seen those. 🐢
I have never seen a baby box turtle either!
Very informative, thanks for sharing. Stomping around the PA forests for over 50 years, I've only come across them about 6 or 8 times.
Always exciting to see one!
When I was a kid back in the mid to late 70s, there was a box turtle that used to show up in our yard every year. That was back in the days when every single yard on the blockdid not have a fence around it. It would be impossible today.
I had same experience in late 60s!
thank you
@@whoaskedforthis you are welcome!
Once again;
A superb presentation, by a highly respectable educator, the kind that every youth should enjoy for a mentor at some time in their young learning experience. I will wager good money that you see LOTS of comeback students! I'm confident that you have inspired thousands for a lifetime, and saved countless of God's creatures from unnecessary termination. Thank you, Frank!
So appreciate your kind and supportive words. It means a lot to me!
good stuff!
Thank you! 😀
One of these apparently moved into my backyard about a month ago. She's dug herself a little hole in the mulch that she sleeps in. My dog had no idea what to make of it. First he was confused by it, then mad at it, and now he's kind of accepted that ok, she lives here now
Great share! Enjoy!
They are so pretty 😍
And so varied! Everyone is different! Like unique finger prints...no two alike!
Fabulous critter! When I was a kid in Northern Virginia in the early 60s, we would see them all the time when we were exploring in the woods. I made a "farm" for them in our backyard to save as many as I could from habitat (and of course their direct) destruction by graders for new housing developments nearby. When we had to move due to my father's reassignment, we relocated our "turtles" (tortoises) to less threatened areas. Interesting factoid, at least in my experience, if you face them into a tree and go off and do your other adventures in the woods, including finding more of them, and come back they'll still be there faced into the tree! I don't think they have much of a sense of reverse! As this video creator suggested, very gentle and even affectionate souls. Tide for my favorite reptile... the other discovered in our eventual move to the Southwest being the desert horned lizard, aka "horny toad"-- same thing, character-ful, gentle souls.
Thanks for sharing your very interesting observations and experiences! 😀
I have only encountered very few box turtles during years of hiking in upstate NY. In contrast have seen hundreds of snappers and sliders.
Yes! They say the Native American impacted box turtle populations through harvesting of shells for many reasons in New England.
That's sad.
Hi Frank. From Pennsylvania buddy Jeff. Awsome you gotta love box turtle. Tommy went to Maine with us. He's pretty cool also. He's a painted turtle. We saved him along time ago. God bless. Your buddy Jeff. Check your mail box😊
@@JeffreyCotle will do!
@user-wo2iw3kt8o I just checked email
..oh gosh.
If you find a turtle crossing a road, yes, carry them across the road in the direction they’re originally going, But pick them up with one hand on each side and hold them out at arms length. they will void urine in some quantity when frightened! 👍😀
😆😉
It got one hell of a beak
@@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723 ha! It really does!
I love box turtles! I see less and less over time though and is sad.
We need more box turtles! 😄
@@natureatyourdoor I seen one laying eggs and left it be. I put a big bottomless wire cage over the nest a few days later so raccoon or what ever would not get them. After probably literally a year of me watching I finally thought I missed them hatching or they are bad so dug them up. All bad. IDK why but it wasnt from me. Just something in nature may be messing them up fertilization or something.
@@rabbithomesteading3797
I had a nest predated on this year. Bout killed me to think of all of the nutrients and work she put into it. If I find another one I’m definitely going to try your enclosure idea! Thanks for that!
I recently worked at a house where the lady has a pair of box turtles in her yard. She said she's seen them mating. I explained to her about the male's shell, and I picked up the female to show her. I didn't see the male or the babies.
Cool! The female will lay eggs underground somewhere close by!
Turtles are very fascinating. My favorite animal besides cats of any size, if a frog. Is it true that the fireants took out most of the horned toads?
Wow...interesting I don't know. I will have to look that up!
Well living in tuckerton nj in the pine barrens I found one trapped in a old basement foundation in the woods felt sorry for it n took it out of the pit from the old pit and next day I seen one smashed on the road 539 and I think it was living in there for its whole life but im not sure it was the same one I thought I rescued from the old house foundation in the pines idk I just thought it was was cruel he was trapped in that old foundation in the pine barrens
Of course you did that right thing! Sad how many turtles get crushed under car wheels.
My understanding is that eastern box turtles don’t develop the hinge/ability to fully close up inside of their shells until they’re of 4 or 5 years old. Is that correct?
Ive never heard that but interesting if true.
I do not know! Interesting. I do know that the little ones have a high mortality rate!
Yes!
@thatrogersmith YES that is a fact.
I haven’t seen one for years. I wonder if all the raccoons eat all the eggs. Never see a grouse or pheasant any more either.
Your observations suggested a lot of habitat changes for sure!
I have a couple box turtles. One big male named Mojojojo. I did not name him that. And a female named Robin they both love together in an outdoor enclosure. I feed them mostly fruit lettuce insects and quail. My mom also has a box turtle but i dont take responsibility for that.
Cool! 🙂
@@natureatyourdoor yer supposed to disagree with me.
@joecamel919 hey...I encourage the company line but I am pretty easy going with my viewers and non judgemental! Enjoy your turtles!😁
@natureatyourdoor I'm not good now. I just took in a blind turtle found in the wild. I do have a permit for wild caught turtles. But a blind turtle is a whole new can of worms. He is eating but it's a real challenge.
I'd compare it to a claw game you play blindfolded.
@@joecamel919 you got this! You will be successful with a blind turtle. Did you notice one of the box turtles that "modeled" for me in my videos had only one eye?
❤🐢
😄
I've live my whole life with box turtles on an.island in Rhode Island. I didn't know any of this. thanks but oops
You are welcome!
Shelly turtle
😀
Now you've got salmonella all over your hands...
Ha! Lol, right? 🤣😅🤣😂
How pathetic
@@tarawhite4419 how pathetic? I don't understand what you mean? 🤔