Box Turtle Home Range

[Mgridgaway]

I've always been curious about a Box Turtle's Home Range. Specifically, when do they "acquire" it? Is it based on where they hatch? Where they spend their first year of life?

In short, at what point does a box turtle say "hey, this is where I'm going to live for the rest of my turtly life"?

 

[Saloli]

There is some fairly strong evidence that they are matrilocal ( meaning they stay in the general area where their mother laid her eggs and thus where they hatched). There is also some evidence of hatchlings and very young juveniles being able to adjust when they are translocated or repatriated (returned to their origin). These have not been thoroughly studied. I would say maybe their first year or so of life would be the time period maybe two years. Though this doesn't take into account transient individuals who are not know to have home ranges. Though sense these individuals histories are not known they may have been relocated individuals trying to return home.

 

[Len B]

Years ago I read a paper on box turtles, in the article it stated that 6% of male box turtles had what they called a wandering gene, this is supposed to help keep inbreeding from occurring, and some will spend their entire life in an area the size of a football field if it's needs are there.I don't remember where I saw this or who wrote it, I always wondered how they came up with the 6% figure.

 

[Mgridgaway]

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it

 

[Saloli]

Welcome. Yeah I think I may have read the same article at some point (I've actually looked up older ones that are referenced extensively). Unfortunately most states don't allow repatriation of local offspring Maryland does but with a permit and permission. I'm not sure if others do.

 

[Tccarolina]

I imagine juveniles probably don't move much the first several years. Juveniles are rarely spotted, as they spend all their time hiding and hunting in dense leaf litter. The ideal environment would be dense leaf litter under mixed underbrush/woods with patchy sunlight throughout the day in the vicinity of a seep, where they can burrow down to weather dry spells during the summer.
When they reach 3+ inches long, they are occasionally seen out in the open or crossing roads, and it is probably at this time that they begin to really explore their environment and begin to establish their range.
I agree with Saloli, they likely establish a home range in the vicinity of the nest site. Certainly some are explorers, and continue moving until they are contented with their surroundings.
I too have read articles referencing transients, although I can't seem to recall where. Dodd's book might discuss it. You should get it, it is very well written and informative.

Steve

 

[Saloli]

Also a lot of young are semi aquatic to aquatic the first few months until doming occurs.