EMERGENCY!!! NEED HELP ASAP!!

Grace-Sophia

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Hey guys, my family had just found a three toed a few hours ago, he seems like he has shell rot due to one of the lines in his carapace looks like it could just twist off. I live in north Texas in Frisco, we NEVER have box turtles in sight it appears. He looks like an adault, my question is that is he native here? Or was he abandoned? Should I keep him under my care long term? What would be the best solution? I need help quick please!!
 

method89

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Hey guys, my family had just found a three toed a few hours ago, he seems like he has shell rot due to one of the lines in his carapace looks like it could just twist off. I live in north Texas in Frisco, we NEVER have box turtles in sight it appears. He looks like an adault, my question is that is he native here? Or was he abandoned? Should I keep him under my care long term? What would be the best solution? I need help quick please!!
Please provide pictures
 

Grace-Sophia

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Here!
 

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TeamZissou

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Just by the general look of wear and tear on the shell. It's normal for a wild turtle or tortoise to look a lot more beat up than our captive ones. And, since you live squarely in their range it makes it more likely. It would be a lot more surprising if you found something like redfoot or sulcata roaming around.
 

Grace-Sophia

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And how would I be able to tell if she was once a pet? She does let me pick her up?
 

ZenHerper

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I don't see any problems with the carapace twisting off? No shell rot; she's been bashed around a bit, but that's life for ya. lol

Fully mature female 3TBT in need of getting back to her home range.

Quite a beauty!!!!
 

m irwin

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Feb 4, 2021
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Agree with all above posts- looks wild but it could have been wild at some point and then taken captive for a while so already had the beat up shell, but yes, was wild for at least a large portion of its life. An easy way to tell if it was a captive turtle - at least for a while - is how did it react to you? Did it initially close up into it's shell and go fully "box" turtle? Or did it flail it's legs out immediately upon you picking it up? Did it come to you when hungry? Captive turtles will rarely go fully into their shells as they used to people and many, but not all, will track you down when you come into their line of site as they associate you (human) with food. Again, only general "rules of thumb". And yes, the three toed is definitely from North Texas. I live in Dallas, bordering Preston Road, but on a greenspace with a creek. I have come across several three toed box turtles over the years. They all look very similar to the one you have pics of - olive drad shell color - very little or very faint shell markings. Glad you let it go and hopefully it'll find it's way back to its home turf to live and breed.
 
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