Box Turtle Identification (Out of Range)

BoxedMystery · Sep 11, 2019

Hi there! I work at a nature preserve in Depew, NY and we found some sort of box turtle this morning. We are well out of range of these turtles, but the common box turtle is native to the state. Whether the turtle is native or not greatly effects what are agency is going to do with him. Can anyone please help us identify this turtle? Here are the photos.

Turtle girl 98 · Sep 11, 2019

I'm not an expert but my guess would be either an ornate box turtle or the Eastern box turtle. I might be wrong so don't take my word for it but they do look like one or the other lol beautiful turtle

Toddrickfl1 · Sep 11, 2019

BoxedMystery said:
Hi there! I work at a nature preserve in Depew, NY and we found some sort of box turtle this morning. We are well out of range of these turtles, but the common box turtle is native to the state. Whether the turtle is native or not greatly effects what are agency is going to do with him. Can anyone please help us identify this turtle? Here are the photos.

It's looks like an Eastern box turtle. "Terrapene Carolina Carolina"

PJay · Sep 11, 2019

I agree, an eastern box turtle. You aren't that far off the reported natural range for it to be naturally occurring, but it could also be an escaped or released pet. See https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/44401.html

Millerlite · Sep 11, 2019

Probably an eastern and it could be a wild one, but also very likely a pet or one that got caught.

Ornate are also known as western box turtles are usually pretty sure even only found west of the Mississippi river. There is a subspecies ornate known as a desert ornate box turtle found in the south western states.

Kyle

NickA · Sep 12, 2019

It’s an eastern and they are native to your area.

Box Turtle Identification (Out of Range)

BoxedMystery

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Turtle girl 98

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Toddrickfl1

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PJay

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Millerlite

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NickA

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