Wildlife trappers-pest control and florda box turtles.

I spoke to the owner of an animal removal-trapper-pest control company yesterday about Floruda box turtles. He said that they get many calls about removing/relocating them each year often the calls all come in around the same time. I asked what he did with them. He said they find an "appropriate spot" and release them based on the law. When I said that may actually not be in the turtles best interest and the turtles may just struggle to get back where they originated he agreed. He said he would call me next time he needed to relocate one but it was illegal to sell or trade it. Florida continues to be built up and these guys should have a safe place. I'm sure this happens in every state with native box turtles. Is it better to adopt these than risk relocating them to a new territory?

A few years ago when I was reading on the native box turtles in my area, I came across an article that stated box turtles (possibly all turtles) will spend their life time getting back to where they were taken from. I don't k ow if its true. If it is, it would not be good for them to be rehomed into the wild, unless it wasn't that far away. Not real sure why people would call to have them removed either. Hopefully someone can confirm.

I have no research on this or anything to back what I think however, sea turtles head back and lay eggs in the same place they were born so it makes sense to me that box turtles (any turtle really) would head back to their originating home if moved away.

Well, I know why they have them removed. My husband grew up in FL and he lived in an area that had a lot of race horse barns. The tortoises that they call gophers are HUGE diggers and the horses would fall in the soft spots and would break and ankle, leg etc. When you are talking some horse worth a Million dollars the last thing you want is it being lame. Thus why they call them to be removed.

I understand removing them for that reason. I was just picturing a turtle walking in someone's yard and for pretty much no reason, they have it removed.

In some new developments where the habitat has been disrupted people may call to have the turtles picked up and relocated for their own safety.

You should take them and relocate th em yourself!

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I have my doubts that they travel back to where they were. A few times I've been brought turtles that escaped my yard, some several years after they escaped and yet they were no more than 100 yards away. I strongly believe they will travel until they find a suitable area and they will settle there.

I would release them in any wildlife management area that looks suitable.

Relocating these animals is a guaranteed death sentence. All Reptiles have a very strong homing instinct, and Box Turtles and Gopher Tortoises are no different. Many studies done on relocation have had 95% mortality rates or higher. It is no means a solution for a very broad problem.....

EricIvins said:

Relocating these animals is a guaranteed death sentence. All Reptiles have a very strong homing instinct, and Box Turtles and Gopher Tortoises are no different. Many studies done on relocation have had 95% mortality rates or higher. It is no means a solution for a very broad problem.....

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Eric, I was hoping you would respond. Any thoughts on what these people should do once they have the turtles?

Yes sea turtles and American Box Turtle (Terrapene species) are matrilocal, which means they stay (generaly speaking) in the general area of the the nest site. Though there are members of Terrapene carolina that are known to wonder. These are known as transiants ( I dont think I spelled that corectly). Though it is unclear if this is normal behavior or the result of turtles being moved by people and trying to return home.

This is very interesting to me, it makes me then wonder if captive bred turtles have a similar thing as to home area, also tho would it be an age thing? As maybe after a home range has been established then its imprinted in their brain, very interesting topic that brings up way more questions....

It could have no boundaries!

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I'm not to sure about them returning to where they were taken... The parcel of land I'm building on is loaded with gopher tortoises....and it wasn't like that a few yrs back I'm told.. I come to find out that the owner of the ranch down the road had dedicated a few acres a few yrs back to except relocated gophers( he was paid approx $300 - $400 and he had to agree never to develop the dedicated property. ) and the area is now saturated with gopher tortoises they are literally everywhere....I would assume if infact they went back to where they were taken there wouldn't be that many around.. I dont know if this is normal but they have no fear of humans what so ever.. Walk right over your boots if you dont move.. One actually walked into the house today and was walking around the house like he owned the place.... the contractor placed him outside and he walked right back in....

As to why people would want turtles removed, I heard one version from a woman where I work. Her husband found a box turtle laying eggs in their flower bed and told me about it. when i told her how excited i was for them, she just rolled her eyes and said said the box turtles are just pests because they get in the garden and eat the squash and tomatoes. She plans to let them hatch, then box up any babies she finds and turn them loose a few miles away. They are country folks who DO rely on their size able garden for most of their veggies, so I doubt I'd have any luck trying to get her to leave them alone. I figure she won't be able to find them all...at least I hope so. :-/

Geez my boxies do me so many favors in the slug/snail/bug control department in the garden! You'd think she'd see it as a blessing having boxies around. Go figure...

I'm not sure if Gopher Tortoises are matrilocal as Box Turtles are, but they do have relatively high reproductive potential under ideal conditions.

I live in Florida and I know for a fact that if someone calls in a residential area that a gopher tortoise has made a burrow or near site in their area, it is highly illegal to disturb or remove the tortoise. Animal control does come to the property, but only to survey the site and make sure that when they do checks later on that the tortoise has not been disturbed. My friend had a very large gopher tortoise nest in her yard, destroying her entire garden and much of her fence line. She had to wait until momma tortoise decided it was time to move on before she could repair anything. I don't know if box tortoises fall under this rule though.

Florida box turtles do not fall under that same rule. The person I spoke with wasn't animal control he owns a private service that deals with pests and nuisance animals.

I live in florida and î sell and breed florida box and gulf coast box it is illegale to sell or keep more than two box turtles in florida unless you have a class 3 wildlife liCENSE or a ESC ive been selling baby florida box and gulf coast box. And you can ship out of state with no problem