Common box turtle shell problem

KalieAlb21

New Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2021
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
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.
IMG_4504.jpegimage000000.jpegIMG_4482.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4482.jpeg
    IMG_4482.jpeg
    1.1 MB · Views: 1

Ink

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Messages
2,923
Location (City and/or State)
Virginia
@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

New Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2021
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
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!

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
1,468
Location (City and/or State)
Memphis
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.
View attachment 378663View attachment 378670View attachment 378671
Definitely looks like it was attacked by an animal, but these seem to be old wounds that have healed.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,658
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.
I agree with Yvonne. Those injuries are very old and have healed to the extent that they were able to heal in the wild. There is nothing which can be done now which will be of any help.

Give the turtle some food if you wish and just let it be a wild box turtle that lives in or near your yard.
 
Top