Common box turtle shell problem

KalieAlb21

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Nov 24, 2021
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Louisiana
I live in Louisiana. This box turtle has been hanging around my sidewalk for a few days. It appeared 3 days ago, disappeared, then reappeared again today. It seemed well enough until I got a closer look at its shell and noticed a piece of its carapace missing on the left side. I picked it up to see the condition of its plastron. The plastron looks unwell to me. Can someone provide me any insight.
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Ink

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@Yvonne G @Maggie3fan or @DoubleD1996! Should be able to help. I'm not an expert however it looks like an animal chewed on it. It is a male because of the concaved bottom. Looks older too
 

KalieAlb21

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Nov 24, 2021
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Louisiana
Thank you for your response. I was thinking the same thing. If there’s any intervention needed, I’m willing to help the little fella out. I have a sulcata. I found her after hurricane Ida. When found she was in poor condition but is doing fantastic now. So I have a little experience in caring for a tortoise.
@Yvonne G @Maggie3fan or @DoubleD1996! Should be able to help. I'm not an expert however it looks like an animal chewed on it. It is a male because of the concaved bottom. Looks older too
 

DoubleD1996!

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I live in Louisiana. This box turtle has been hanging around my sidewalk for a few days. It appeared 3 days ago, disappeared, then reappeared again today. It seemed well enough until I got a closer look at its shell and noticed a piece of its carapace missing on the left side. I picked it up to see the condition of its plastron. The plastron looks unwell to me. Can someone provide me any insight.
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Definitely looks like it was attacked by an animal, but these seem to be old wounds that have healed.
 

Yvonne G

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It's an old, healed chewed event.
 
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