New York Tortoise Identification Needed - Help!

[Reptile Girl NY]

What kind of tortoise is this? I found it earlier this month in a garage in Rocky Point, Long Island, New York. It is very small, brown, and has orange ridges on its carapace. I have attached four pictures. Please help me identify the species. Thanks so much!

 

[Yvonne G]

It's a little baby box turtle, probably (because of the dark plastron) an eastern - Terapene carolina carolina.

 

[Tom]

Yep. That ain't no tortoise…

 

[dmmj]

hey I'm walking here
little baby box turtle is what you have

 

[Angel Carrion]

What did you do with the little tyke?

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Native, protected species. You have to let it go. However, if you've fallen in love with box turtles, Julie at turtle rescue of Long Island may have an unreleasable one for you.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
What a pretty little box turtle that is.
Did you let him go somewhere safe nearby?

 

[Reptile Girl NY]

You're right, I think it is a box turtle! Thanks so much for your help. I released it in the backyard. Hopefully it can find a new home and be safe.

 

[MPRC]

I'm willing to bet some of the members here could give you suggestions on how to make your yard turtle friendly so you can hopefully have more run ins with them.

 

[Angel Carrion]

Anyone know if babies this young have already set a 'home range' and try to get back like adults? I believe the answer is no they don't, but I'm not positive.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

If you grow fruits and vegetables, even if you don't have a water source, your yard can be an attractive place for turtles. A leaf pile, a brush pile, berries...

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Anyone know if babies this young have already set a 'home range' and try to get back like adults? I believe the answer is no they don't, but I'm not positive.

Interesting thought.
I would imagine not, too. They would presumably be wired to move away from the hatch site, they couldn't all hang about there.
After that it would be a question of survival, hide out and sneak a meal when you can, territories come with age, size and confidence, i should think.
They quite possibly get chased from territory to territory 'til they find a zone that isn't taken. Just guessing, mind.

 

[Angel Carrion]

Interesting thought.
I would imagine not, too. They would presumably be wired to move away from the hatch site, they couldn't all hang about there.
After that it would be a question of survival, hide out and sneak a meal when you can, territories come with age, size and confidence, i should think.
They quite possibly get chased from territory to territory 'til they find a zone that isn't taken. Just guessing, mind.

That's what I'm thinking. If they would have come across their parent while staying in the general area of where they hatched, the parent would attempt to eat them or such, too, so moving out would be the smartest option.