Species of the Week: Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) are the most common terrestrial turtle in the eastern United States. Reaching a maximum length of eight inches, they are highly variable in shape, pattern, and coloration.
They can be found in a wide variety of habitats from wooded swamps to dry, grassy fields, though they are most abundant in moist forested areas with plenty of underbrush. Box turtles are some of the longest lived and slowest reproducing species in the world. In fact, little is known about the lives of young box turtles because they are so secretive and hard to find.
Box turtles are omnivores. They will eat almost anything, animal or plant, that they can fit in their mouth. It is thought that young box turtles are primarily carnivorous and that as they grow their diet shifts more and more towards plant material. Favorite foods include almost any insect, virtually any fruit or berry, mushrooms, a variety of vegetable matter, and even carrion.
Although still fairly common over much of their range, their future is uncertain. Box turtles are slow growing, have few young, and have exhibited delayed sexual maturity. These qualities make it very difficult for existing populations to recover from loss. Foremost among problems faced by box turtles is habitat destruction and fragmentation. As areas of suitable habitat become few and farther between, box turtle numbers will decline and individual populations will become increasingly vulnerable to extinction. Confined to smaller areas, the turtles will have a difficult time finding food and mates. Small, isolated populations may suffer from inbreeding and other problems resulting from a loss of genetic diversity. Box turtles may also wander out of their isolated habitats into developed areas where they are particularly susceptible to human-induced threats. Each year countless box turtles are hit by cars or trains when they attempt to cross roads or railroads. Others are accidentally killed by lawn mowers, tractors, and farm equipment. Protecting large areas of this species’ preferred habitat can help protect existing populations and ensure the survival of this beloved species.