Damaged Shell, What to do?

[julicrenshaw]

I found a small female ornate box turtle (I think it's an Ornate) on the highway near where I live. I've never see any box turtles in the area I live in. I stopped to look at it and found it's shell is messed up. Looks like it has had some major trauma. Deep scratches, punchers, missing pieces on the edges. Doesn't look fresh to me. I think I see new scuts under the bone, but it doesn't look like the old stuff is coming off. I don't know what to do to help her. My plan is to release her again, even though she's very sweet and my male box turtle really likes her. I don't want to release her damaged, I'd like to help her if I can.

 

[ascott]

I found a small female ornate box turtle (I think it's an Ornate) on the highway near where I live. I've never see any box turtles in the area I live in. I stopped to look at it and found it's shell is messed up. Looks like it has had some major trauma. Deep scratches, punchers, missing pieces on the edges. Doesn't look fresh to me. I think I see new scuts under the bone, but it doesn't look like the old stuff is coming off. I don't know what to do to help her. My plan is to release her again, even though she's very sweet and my male box turtle really likes her. I don't want to release her damaged, I'd like to help her if I can.

If you have allowed the captive turtle you have into the same space as this wild turtle you may have just closed the opportunity to release the wild one back into the wild....tough situation. The shell looks like the shell of a wild turtle that has had some scrapes but otherwise got through them...

 

[wellington]

You should never put a wild turtle near your captive one.
If the encounter between the two was very short or not at all then you should put this turtle back where you found it but in a safer place, not near the road.

 

[Melis]

Also keep a close eye on yours for awhile. There should always be a quarantine period with new torts because you never know what the other could be carrying, especially one that is wild caught.

 

[Eric Phillips]

This girl looks great! Yes, the shell has some old damage, scars, and probably some shell rot at one time, but such is life I'd send her on her way.

 

[julicrenshaw]

If you have allowed the captive turtle you have into the same space as this wild turtle you may have just closed the opportunity to release the wild one back into the wild....tough situation. The shell looks like the shell of a wild turtle that has had some scrapes but otherwise got through them...

Although the turtles did see each other once, they have not been kept together.

 

[ascott]

Although the turtles did see each other once, they have not been kept together.

Fricken sweet....