Jimbo11
New Member
Someone gave me this box turtle that they found crossing a busy interstate in a busy metropolitan area and don't remember exactly where it was. I wouldn't put a turtle or any creature back along a busy interstate any how.
I've had tortoises in the past and my ex-wife still has one that we found just north of Little Rock Ark on US 67 back in 1991. I'm surprised that this turtle has survived this long ( 91 - 2018 ) and is still thriving without the by the book... no shelter, no uv light and eats pretty much anything and roams her apartment freely. I suppose he has extrodinary adaptation skills.
I don't want another tortoise/box turtle, mostly because he won't eat! I don't wish to watch him die of starvation and I'm very frustrated with attempting to feed him everyday with no results. I've tried earthworms, raw meat, strawberries, banana, tomatoes, canned cat food and moistened cat kibble.
I was just about ready to take him to a wooded area near a stream and a few lakes. I surveyed the area using Google satellite imaging and see no threats. Very few farm houses and a couple of rural back roads nearby, but that's it.
Then I read in multiple Google sites that a box turtle ( or any type of turtle ) will spend it's entire life searching for that 2 - 3 acre homing range where it was born and more often than not, they don't make it.
Now would be the perfect time too, because he still has a few months to store away the calories and nutrients he needs for hibernation and has only been in captivity for 2 weeks or less.
I need advice here! Is it even possible that this box turtle will survive if I release him in that heavily wooded area??
I know it's possible that he may overcome the obvious environmental stress that he's going through and start eating, but it's not looking good.
I've had tortoises in the past and my ex-wife still has one that we found just north of Little Rock Ark on US 67 back in 1991. I'm surprised that this turtle has survived this long ( 91 - 2018 ) and is still thriving without the by the book... no shelter, no uv light and eats pretty much anything and roams her apartment freely. I suppose he has extrodinary adaptation skills.
I don't want another tortoise/box turtle, mostly because he won't eat! I don't wish to watch him die of starvation and I'm very frustrated with attempting to feed him everyday with no results. I've tried earthworms, raw meat, strawberries, banana, tomatoes, canned cat food and moistened cat kibble.
I was just about ready to take him to a wooded area near a stream and a few lakes. I surveyed the area using Google satellite imaging and see no threats. Very few farm houses and a couple of rural back roads nearby, but that's it.
Then I read in multiple Google sites that a box turtle ( or any type of turtle ) will spend it's entire life searching for that 2 - 3 acre homing range where it was born and more often than not, they don't make it.
Now would be the perfect time too, because he still has a few months to store away the calories and nutrients he needs for hibernation and has only been in captivity for 2 weeks or less.
I need advice here! Is it even possible that this box turtle will survive if I release him in that heavily wooded area??
I know it's possible that he may overcome the obvious environmental stress that he's going through and start eating, but it's not looking good.