Introducing Sweet Pea, Gulf Coast Boxie

[sibi]

This is Sweet Pea, the newest member to our family. I found him on the sidewalk and it looked like he just hatched out of the ground and somehow walked to where I found him. Well, I just couldn't leave him there, so...here he is emerging out from his hide. He didn't see me, but I saw him.

 

[wellington]

He's very cute. However, I do believe in leaving the wild, in the wild.

 

[sibi]

I agree totally; however, I almost stepped on him when I saw him, and I was afraid that he was going to go into the street and get himself killed by a car. Couldn't let that happen.

 

[EKLC]

Yea, I don't like his chances on the streets. I saved 6 turtles last summer that were crossing streets, and I rarely am on the road. One was upside-down on an extremely busy street in the rain. I took them to a local nature area.

 

[Moozillion]

He's adorable!

Here in Louisiana, taking them from the wild is one of the only 2 LEGAL ways to acquire a box turtle (the other legal way is to be given one). It is completely ILLEGAL for us to buy, trade, barter etc ANY North American box turtles. I'm not saying this makes good conservation sense, and I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just saying that's how it is down here.

 

[JessiKY]

So cute. He look like my baby box turtle.

 

[Moozillion]

Gosh- that small and you can already tell he's a gulf coast box turtle? How do you tell? (I'm not challenging your judgement, I'm curious!)

 

[pryncesssc]

Very cute! Will you be returning him to the wild in the spring ?

 

[sibi]

That's my plan. I will place him near a pond away from roads. He's a gulf coast boxie because I looked up the types of box turtles in my area, and I saw a picture of one that looked exactly like him. It's legal to have 2 boxies, and it's illegal to sell or trade them here.

 

[pryncesssc]

Good for you ! It's really nice of you to help the little guy out